Office of the Historian

740.00119 EW/1–1046: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Italy (Kirk)

Washington, January 10, 1946.

61. Please convey to De Gasperi10 following message from the President:

“I appreciate your message of December 1611 and extend every wish that your Government may succeed in its urgent task of making the people of Italy truly responsible for the conduct of their own community and nation.

I am confident that Italy will be enabled to conclude with the United Nations a treaty of peace which will fulfill our common needs and desires. To that end you can count on the good will and friendly collaboration of the United States, just as I know we can count on yours. Harry Truman.”

Acheson

[A note from Secretary of State Byrnes was delivered to the French Government on January 13, 1946. The note, which had been approved [Page 7] in advance by the British and Soviet Governments, furnished the explanations and information requested by the French Government in its note of January 3 to the Secretary of State (see telegram 37, January 3, from Paris, page 3). For text of Secretary Byrnes’ note of January 13, see Department of State Bulletin, January 27, 1946, page 112.]

  1. Alcide De Gasperi, Italian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.↩

  2. Prime Minister De Gasperi’s message, in translation, read as follows:

    “Upon assuming the Presidency of the new Italian Government, I desire to address to you, to the Government, and to the American people my most friendly wishes at the time when at Moscow discussions destined to have such great importance and weight for the future of the world have begun between the Great Three. Permit me Mr. President to express my sincere hope for their success and my confidence that if Italian problems are also to be discussed there, they may be discussed with that spirit of equity and justice that has always actuated the United States in our problems; and in friendly collaboration and consultation with the people concerned.” (865.00/1–246)

    Prime Minister De Gasperi’s message was referred to the Department of State on January 2, 1946, by William D. Hassett, Secretary to President Truman. President Truman’s reply was prepared in draft in the Department of State.

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