740.00119 EW/6–2246: Telegram
The Italian Ambassador (Tarchiani) to President Truman81
Mr. President: Pardon me if the alarming reports from Paris concerning my country induce me to intrude in your short holiday with this personal appeal. Those reports seem to imply that grave decisions are under way in the Trieste question hinting even at the possibility of an internationalization of that Italian city.
In the name of the half million Italians of Venezia Giulia and Trieste, in the name of the 600,000 Italians who died at the side of the Allies in the World War 1914–1918 to restore Trieste to Italy, in the name of the whole Italian people and Government I beg you not to give the American consent to a flagrant injustice which would sever Italian Trieste from the Italian body, would render it impossible for Italy to sign the Treaty and would leave Europe without peace. An internationalization of the City of Trieste would be unjustifiable and would constitute a manifest violation of the Atlantic Charter.
Mr. President, 46 millions of Italians in this supreme moment of their history appeal to you for the maintenance of Trieste to Italy. Do not let such appeal remain unanswered.
- This telegram was referred to the Acting Secretary of State on June 24, under cover of the following memorandum from President Truman: “I am attaching a message from the Italian Embassy, which speaks for itself. You may reply to it, as you see fit. H.S.T.” There is no evidence that a reply was made to the Italian Ambassador’s message.↩