740.0011 EW (Peace)/2–1147
The Secretary of State to the Italian Ambassador (Tarchiani)
My Dear Mr. Ambassador: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of February 11, 1947, transmitting a statement of the Italian Government concerning the Italian desire for an eventual revision of certain provisions of the Treaty of Peace with Italy.1
As you know, provision is made in Article 46 of the Italian Treaty for possible future modification of the Military, Naval and Air clauses.2 Also, it is the view of this Government that means exist under the [Page 530] United Nations Charter for eventual peaceful changes in the provisions of treaties by agreement among the states concerned. Further, as regards provisions of the Italian Treaty which confer on any one of the Allied and Associated Powers rights affecting only that power and Italy, there would surely be no bar to a future modification which might be agreed upon between Italy and the power concerned.
I know the Italian Government will appreciate that this Government cannot at this time appropriately comment upon the possible revision, after the Treaty with Italy has come into effect, of particular clauses of that treaty. I can assure you, however, that in its relations with Italy this Government will be guided in the future as in the past by the principles of international justice and peace which the American people have always cherished.
Sincerely yours,
- Not printed.↩
- Article 46 reads: “Each of the military, naval, and air clauses of the present Treaty shall remain in force until modified in whole or in part by agreement between the Allied and Associated Powers and Italy or, after Italy becomes a member of the United Nations, by agreement between the Security Council and Italy.”↩