840.50 Recovery/7–2247
The Italian Embassy to the Department of State 1
The new American policy towards Germany as announced through the instructions issued by the United States Government to General Clay2 is of deep interest to the Italian Government. Italy views with favor that Germany be included again in the European system, also in view of the fact that Italian–German prewar exchanges (horticultural produce, coal and metals) would contribute to reduce the deficit of her balance of payments, thus representing a considerable saving to the American taxpayer.
Italian representatives have sustained this opinion at the Paris Conference in the conviction that the application thereof would fully meet the Marshall plan. A similar program, however, clashes with the firm attitude of France. On the other hand it seems that Switzerland, the Low Countries and Sweden would adhere to such a program.