740.00119 Control (Italy)/12–346
The Italian Ambassador (Tarchiani) to the Secretary of State
Dear Mr. Secretary of State: The most serious concern has been caused in Italy by recent reports on the latest developments of the discussions by the C.F.M., according to which the armed forces that are to remain, during the initial period, at the disposal of the Governor of the Free Territory, should include a contingent of 5000 Yugoslav men.
The Italian Government fully shares this concern, particularly with regard to the psychological and material consequences of the presence of Yugoslav troops in the town of Trieste, on whose overwhelming Italian character it is hardly necessary to dwell. It feels moreover that the inclusion of the Yugoslav armed forces, namely of the forces of one of the Parties directly concerned, would tend to modify the equilibrium that the decisions by the Big Four wish to pursue in the area of the Free Territory.
In order to obviate at least in a certain measure to the negative consequences of the reported decision, it would be desirable, in the opinion of the Italian Government, to establish the principle that also Italian units should be included in the armed contingent above referred to. These units might be made up with elements of the Italian regular army and of the partisan formations which have fought side by side with the armed forces of the United Nations, and which have directly contributed to the liberation of Trieste.
I sincerely trust that the above suggestion, which I have been instructed to submit to the C.F.M., may form the object of the most careful and sympathetic consideration.
Please accept, Mr. Secretary of State, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.
Yours very truly,