865.24/9–248
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Italy
No. 291
The Acting Secretary of State refers to the Embassy’s telegram No. 2349 of May 24, 1948 concerning the request of the Italian Minister of Defense for assistance in the procurement of certain supplies and equipment required by the Italian Navy. The matter was referred to the Secretary of Defense with the recommendation that the requested military equipment be made available to the Italian Government on the same basis as that supplied under authority of SANACC 390/11 should it be determined that the supply of the requested equipment was essential for the maintenance of the internal security of Italy.
The Secretary of Defense has advised the Department of the view of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretary of the Navy that the situation in Italy has improved since approval by the President on February 13, 1948 of the transfer of military equipment to Italy (SANACC 390/1) and that, short of an emergency which is not now evident, the matter of further military assistance to Italy should now be considered and determined in connection with the over-all foreign military assistance policy which is currently being developed. The Secretary of Defense has approved this conclusion and has expressed the opinion that in view of international developments leading to current consideration of various forms of military assistance to numerous foreign governments, particularly in Western Europe, further aid to [Page 807] Italy should be considered in that context.2 The Department of State has advised the Secretary of Defense of its concurrence in this position.
As to the procurement of the requested military equipment and supplies on a commercial basis through private channels, the Secretary of Defense has advised that 100 octane gasoline may be available in Europe from either the British-Mexican Oil Co. or the Standard-Vacuum Oil Co. Mr. Forrestal has advised the Department that other items requested by the Italian Government may be obtained commercially from the sources indicated in the enclosure hereto,3 but that direct negotiations will be necessary to determine their immediate availability. The Secretary of the Navy has therefore been asked by the Secretary of Defense to instruct his representatives to assist the Italian Government in its negotiations for commercial procurement of this equipment should the Italian Government desire to attempt to obtain the required equipment through commercial channels.
It is not considered desirable to inform the Italian Government at this time of this Government’s basic position concerning the supply of military equipment to Italy. The Italian Government should merely be informed that although requested equipment and supplies are not available from United States supplies on hand it may be possible for the Italian Government to procure the required equipment through commercial sources, as indicated in the enclosure, and that representatives of the United States Navy will be pleased to extend all practicable assistance in such negotiations as the Italian Government may undertake for the procurement of this material. At the same time the Italian Government should be reassured of the continued interest of the United States Government in the efficient and effective organization of the Italian Navy and of the determination of this Government to extend all practicable assistance in that respect.
For the information of the Officer in Charge, the Secretary of Defense has further informed the Department of State that should the danger to the internal security of Italy be greatly increased by future events, the Military Establishment will be prepared to review its policy with regard to the request of the Italian Government for assistance.