740.0011 EW (Peace)/4–1747: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Secretary of State, in Moscow
970. Moskco 68. Personal for the Secretary from Acheson. As I informed you several days ago, Vandenberg had agreed to resumption of hearings of peace treaties April 21 with intention of concluding hearings that day and promptly referring committee report to Senate for action. Yesterday Vandenberg informed me that a considerable number of witnesses were insisting on testifying against the Italian treaty. Among these individuals are Adolf Berle,1 LaGuardia,2 Edgar Mowrer,3 Dorothy Thompson4 and Antonini.5 It was clear, he said, that if all the people who want to testify were heard the hearings would drag out over several days. Moreover, he stated, he felt that it would be necessary for adequate answers to be made to their testimony.
Vandenberg pointed out that the principal argument which would be made against the Italian treaty was that it is already obsolete; that is, it was concluded at a time when the policy of the U.S. Govt was to “appease” Moscow, whereas the Truman doctrine has changed that whole policy. He said that in his opinion it will be necessary for you to appear before the committee, in addition to Byrnes, to insure the approval of the treaties by the committee.6 He went on to say that he was endeavoring to work out with Ed Corsi7 an arrangement to cut down materially the number of witnesses to appear but that in any event he felt that it would be desirable to postpone the resumption of hearings which had been scheduled for April 21.
I have discussed this matter with Mr. Byrnes who is quite prepared to undertake to answer testimony of opposing witnesses with, of course, assistance from the Dept. Byrnes said he saw no reason why the hearings should be postponed and asked me to urge upon Vandenberg that he go ahead with hearings as scheduled. I thereupon discussed the [Page 542] matter with Vandenberg who insists on postponement. Vandenberg said that he was still endeavoring to work out arrangement to reduce number of witnesses and in any event could not schedule hearings for April 21. He asked that I consult you and give him your views.
After talking to Vandenberg, I discussed the whole question with the President who wants to do whatever you desire in this matter.
I am confident that it will be necessary for you to appear before the committee on your return and be prepared to answer the question whether in the light of happenings at the Moscow Conference you feel that it is in the interests of the US that the Senate proceed with the approval of these treaties. Incidentally Vandenberg told me today that he feels that in the light of lack of progress made at Moscow the US has very little to gain from the entering into force of these five treaties.
- Adolf Augustus Berle, Jr., Assistant Secretary of State, 1938–1944.↩
- Fiorello H. La Guardia, member of Congress, 1917–1921 and 1923–1933; mayor of New York City, 1934–1945.↩
- Edgar Ansel Mowrer, author and war correspondent; had served with the Office of War Information until February 1943.↩
- Dorothy Thompson, newspaper columnist, lecturer, and radio commentator.↩
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Luigi Antonini, first Vice President of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union; President of the Italo-American Council of Labor.
For a complete list of persons who testified before the Committee, see page 3 of the hearings cited on p. 529, footnote 1.
↩ - Secretary Marshall testified before the Committee for the second time on May 6, 1947, ibid., p. 172. Cf. footnote 2, p. 545.↩
- Edward Corsi, born in Italy (1896), naturalized in 1921, writer, Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization, 1933–1934. He testified before the Committee on April 30 in his capacity as Chairman of the Executive Committee, Committee for a Just Peace with Italy, and as State Labor Commissioner of New York State. For his statement, see ibid., p. 31.↩