740.00119 Control (Italy)/4–2347
The Secretary of State to the Secretary of War (Patterson)
My Dear Mr. Secretary: I refer to your letter of April 23, 1947 to Mr. Acheson regarding the retention of United States forces in Italy until the Italian peace treaty comes into effect.
As you know, hearings on the Italian and Balkan treaties were resumed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on April 30.1 I am hopeful therefore that Senate action will be completed at an early date. If no further delays are encountered, it should be possible to bring the Italian treaty into force not later than early June, but you will understand that no definite assurances can be given in this regard at the present time.
The difficulties of the War Department in the situation resulting from the delay in ratification of the Italian treaty are appreciated by the Department of State. In the national interest, however, United States forces should be retained in Italy until the treaty comes into effect, and it seems evident that forces in excess of the national contingent of 5,000 troops for the Free Territory of Trieste could not be withdrawn by June 30. I wish to assure you, therefore, that the War Department will have the full support of the Department of State in securing the necessary funds for the retention of United States forces in Italy beyond July 1, 1947, and during the withdrawal period subsequent to the coming into force of the Italian treaty.
Faithfully yours,