Defense Department Files
Memorandum by Colonel Douglas V. Johnson of the Military Establishment
[Subject:] State Department Guidance Reference Discussions with General Marras
In answering the questions of General Marras, it must be clear to him that all answers are conditioned upon the following facts:
There is no North Atlantic Pact and there is no assurance that the U.S.A. will join one if formed. Even should the U.S.A. join such a pact, there is no assurance that there will be any foreign military aid program. Hence these questions are not questions that the Executive Branch of the Government can decide and they must be answered affirmatively by the Congress.
The general thinking in the Executive Branch of the Government is that if a North Atlantic Pact is formed, membership therein would be limited to those countries washed by the North Atlantic or associated with the Western Union. Although membership in Western Union is a question for the body to decide, we would consider that Italy is a natural member of Western Union, due to its cultural, economic and political orientation to the West. We see no means by which the treaty limitations on the defense forces of Italy can be removed. The ECA funds cannot be used for the purchase of munitions but if the Italian Government desires to initiate the rehabilitation of western industries which, although not solely within the category of a war industry, would still contribute to the development of Italy’s war potential, the Italian Government should make such representations to the ECA. The Italian Government will no doubt find it necessary to provide armaments for its military forces. Expenditure of its own funds to develop internally the facilities for so providing is reasonable. Should it desire to purchase armaments in the U.S. in order to maintain those forces, it would appear that there would be no objection. In the event there are any emergency requirements necessary to enable the Italian [Page 815] forces to maintain internal security, a request for assistance in meeting such requirements would be considered by the U.S.
For General Bradley Only:
It is felt that the visit of General Marras to the U.S. and his reception here cannot fail to have impressed the other nations of the world with the interest which the U.S. has in the defense of Italy.