740.00119 Council/4–247: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Italy (Dunn)
19. Delsec 1381. For the Ambassador from the Secretary. Tentative agreement has been reached which will permit Italy as an ex-enemy state which subsequently participated with its own forces in the war against Germany to participate (reurtel 26, March 2681) in some form in the preparation of the German peace treaty. Under this arrangement Italy will be afforded at an appropriate stage in the preparation of the peace treaty the opportunity to present its views on the German problems orally or in writing to the Council of Foreign Ministers or to the Deputies.
In addition, it is our view Italy would be included under the formula proposed by the US that all states at war with Germany should be associated with the proposed “information and consultation conference”. That conference (or committee) will afford a forum where under member states will be given an opportunity to present their views and to consult on the progress of work in preparing the peace settlement. The “conference” would be set up immediately.
[Page 498]I have also urged that all states at war with Germany should be accorded full and equal rights to participate as members in the peace conference itself. As you well know, however, agreement on this in the CFM will be difficult to obtain and may not be reached at this meeting.
Please assure Count Sforza of my sympathetic interest in his government’s desire to participate appropriately in the preparation of the German peace settlement.83
Sent Rome 19; repeated Department 1146.