740.0011 EW (Peace)/7–1247: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Italy
1137. Ur 1930 July 12.1 Dept concurs your opinion re Ital treaty ratification. Since USSR has not ratified and in view reversal position Ital Communists and Nenni Socialists, it would seem unfair urge De Gasperi push Ital ratification to showdown vote at this time, with possible consequences for Govt which defeat this issue would entail. Dept hopes by time Const Assembly reconvenes Aug 20 USSR will have ratified, and situation will be different.
Accordingly, you may inform De Gasperi that in view circumstances and delicate political problem which pressure for immediate ratification would raise for Ital Govt, US does not wish urge that he press for immediate action by Assembly.2 In response to inquiry, Tarchiani informed in this sense by Dept.
[Page 555]London and Paris shd inform UK and French Govts, respectively, of Dept’s position this matter.3
Sent Rome as 1137, London as 3020 and Paris as 2593.
- Not printed.↩
- In telegram No. 1972, July 16, from Rome, not printed, Ambassador Dunn reported that in Count Sforza’s absence he had informed the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Brusasca “that decision as to whether matter of ratification of treaty is to be pressed at this time before Constituent Assembly is entirely up to Italian Government.” (740.0011 EW (Peace)/7–1647)↩
- In telegram No. 3893, July 16, from London, not printed, Ambassador Douglas reported that “Bevin bows to our judgment that De Gasperi should not now be urged to push for ratification. This judgment he informed me has been confirmed by the British Ambassador in Rome.” (740.0011 EW (Peace)/7–1647)↩