740.00119 Control (Italy)/4–2347
The Secretary of War (Patterson) to the Acting Secretary of State
Dear Mr. Acheson: The delay in ratification of the Peace Treaty for Italy has reached a point where it becomes necessary to consider withdrawal of U.S. forces from Italy irrespective of treaty ratification. This is so because of an increasingly critical situation as regards manpower, the requirement for warning so that withdrawal can be accomplished in the limited period of 90 days and the necessity for funds to cover the prolonged retention of forces in the area.
The understanding of the War Department has been that the national interest required the retention of U.S. forces in Italy until the [Page 885] peace treaty came into effect. In addition to the moral obligation of the U.S. to retain troops in the area until ratification, there is a military commitment with the British to remain in Venezia Giulia jointly until an international settlement is secured.
Informal State Department advice initially estimated that the treaty might be brought into effect by 1 April 1947. This would have; permitted the withdrawal of U.S. forces by the 30th of June 1947.
War Department planning has been predicated on no requirement for U.S. forces in Italy after 30 June 1947. In addition, subsequent to agreement by the Council of Foreign Ministers, as regards the Venezia Giulia problem and Trieste, the schedule for troop deployment was revised to provide after 30 June 1947 only the 5,000 troops for U.S. national contingent for Trieste.
The manpower situation is such that the retention of U.S. forces in Italy beyond 30 June 1947 will require either the reduction of U.S. forces available for the European Command or committing a substantial part of the General Reserve. The adoption of either of these alternatives will reduce the respective forces to a level which is considered dangerously low and most unsatisfactory from the military point of view.
The present situation is that the War Department will have, subsequent to 30 June 1947, only the funds necessary to maintain the 5,000 man contingent for Trieste. In order to provide for maintaining forces in Italy after 30 June 1947 and until withdrawal is completed, consideration is being given by the War Department to the impact on the War Department expenditures and its budget resulting from the continuance of U.S. forces in Italy, at least in the initial part of fiscal year 1948.
Unless reasonable assurance can be given that the Italian Peace Treaty will come into force not later than early June this year, thereby permitting the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Italy by September, the course of action concerning the retention of U.S. forces in Italy must now be determined.
It is recommended that every effort be made to secure the earliest practicable consideration by the U.S. Senate of the Italian Peace Treaty. Whatever may be the course of action determined, the War Department assumes that it will have the full support of the State Department in securing necessary funds.
The manpower situation, the advance warning required for withdrawal and the present indefiniteness as regards funds, require early resolution of the problem as outlined. It is hoped that the views of the State Department may be available to the War Department at an early date.
Sincerely yours,