740.0011 EW Peace/3–747
The British Embassy to the Department of State 1
Memorandum
His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom consider that the Four Powers concerned should now take action to put into effect the [Page 573] provisions of the Italian Peace Treaty with regard to the disposal of the ex-Italian Colonies.
2. Under these provisions the Council of Foreign Ministers are to determine the final disposal of the Italian Colonies within one year of the coming into force of the Treaty and their Deputies are to continue consideration of the question, sending out Commissions of Investigation to any of the Colonies to obtain the necessary data and views of the local population.
3. The Council of Foreign Ministers agreed in New York that the Four Powers should nominate their representatives on the Commissions by the date of signature of the Treaty. His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom have selected Mr. F. E. Stafford2 as their Commissioner for any territories visited, and would be glad to learn the name of the Commissioner selected by the Government of the United States.
4. His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom consider that the Deputies of the Four Powers should meet at an early date to draw up the terms of reference of the Commissioners and to decide on the future programme generally. It would also no doubt be desirable for the Deputies to make arrangements for the hearings (after the Italian Treaty has come into force) of the other interested governments in accordance with Annex XI of the Treaty.
5. His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom consider that in order not to add this question to the Moscow Agenda,3 where German and Austrian Affairs must have priority, it would be desirable for special Deputies to be appointed. They suggest that these Deputies should meet in London, in view of the fact that, with the exception of a part of Libya under French Military Administration, all the former Italian possessions in Africa are under British Administration, and the information required will be more readily available in London than elsewhere.
6. It will be appreciated that several months will be required to obtain the essential data of the nature indicated in the Treaty Annex on which the Deputies will base their recommendations to the Council of Foreign Ministers, and that it is therefore desirable that the preliminary meeting to set up the Commissions of Investigation should not be delayed.
[Page 574]7. His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom will be glad to learn as soon as possible if the above suggestions are acceptable to the Government of the United States and if the latter could send a Special Deputy to London for discussions in the last week of March. His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom would also be grateful to learn the name of the Special Deputy appointed. They are for their part appointing Mr. Gladwyn Jebb.
8. A communication in the foregoing terms has also been addressed to the French and Soviet Governments.
Washington, March 7th, 1947.
- Delivered to the Department of State on March 8, 1947.↩
- Brig. F. E. Stafford, Egyptian Department, British Foreign Office.↩
- Reference to the agenda for the Fourth Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers, Moscow, March 10–April 24, 1947. For documentation regarding this Council session, see vol. ii, Chapter ii, pp. 139 ff.↩