Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947, The British Commonwealth; Europe, Volume III

FW 865.248/4–747

Memorandum by the United States Chiefs of Staff to the Combined Chiefs of Staff ¹

top secret

Washington, [April 4, 1947.]

Modernization of the Italian Air Force

1. The United States Chiefs of Staff have considered the memorandum (CCS. 536/12²) by the Representatives of the British Chiefs of Staff wherein the latter agree that the Air Ministry will assume entire responsibility for the Italian Air Force program except for the supply of fifty (50) P–51 aircraft and the associated aircraft maintenance equipment and spares.

2. The United States Chiefs of Staff agree that the plan set forth in Appendix “A”, CCS. 536/12 should be presented to the Italian Government as an agreed Anglo-American plan, and that the Italians should be invited to discuss details, including finance, with the British and United States authorities in Rome.

3. With regard to the draft message proposed by the British Chiefs of Staff to the Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean, in Appendix “B” to CCS. 536/12, the United States Chiefs of Staff generally approve the message, but desire to insure that the message will not be construed as a commitment for United States equipment other than the fifty (50) P–51 aircraft, and the specific-to-type aircraft maintenance equipment and spare parts for three (3) years for the P–51’s. They further desire the inclusion of a paragraph outlining the cost of the United States equipment to the Italian Government and propose, therefore, that the draft message to the Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean be amended as indicated in the Appendix.³

4. Subject to the amendments proposed in the Appendix the United States Chiefs of Staff approve the dispatch of the message to the Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean, in Appendix “B” of CCS. 536/12.

1. This memorandum, not dated, was an enclosure to SWN–5294, April 7, 1947, not printed (865.248/4–747).
2. Not printed.
3. Not printed.