Office of the Historian

501.AA/8–1547

Memorandum by the Italian Ambassador (Tarchiani) to the Acting Secretary of State

confidential

Memorandum

The Italian Ambassador presents his compliments to the Honorable the Acting Secretary of State and has the honor to inform him that the recent trend of discussions within the Membership Committee of the Security Council for Italy’s admission to the United Nations—and especially the attitude of the U.S.S.R. Delegate, which may lead to a veto—is a cause of deep concern to the Italian Government and people.

The Department of State is fully aware of the difficult debate [that] occurred within the Italian Constituent Assembly for the ratification of the Peace Treaty. During such debate, the main argument on the Government’s side, and perhaps the determining one leading to the approval of ratification, was that Italy acquired, even though at a high price, the right of immediate participation in the body of the United Nations. A denial of admission at the present time to the United Nations would undoubtedly place the Italian Government in a very serious position not only with the Constituent Assembly, but with the entire Nation as well. A feeling of deep disappointment would overtake those centers of public opinion on which the Italian Government is most relying for carrying out their policy of understanding and international collaboration.

The Italian Government therefore cherishes the hope that the Government of the United States, which has already shown, since the start, to favor Italy’s admission to the United Nations, will take all [Page 251] possible action in her favor at the Security Council for attaining this purpose. Naturally the Italian Government would be glad indeed were it possible to reach a formula agreeable to all Powers concerned, permitting to reconcile the arguments expounded in the Membership Committee, without impairing Italy’s admission by action of the United Nation’s General Assembly of next September.

The Italian Government firmly hopes that Italy will be spared a new wound that might have grave political repercussions.

Washington, August 15, 1947.