Editorial Note
General Efisio Luigi Marras, Chief of Staff of the Italian Army (1947–1950) arrived by air in Washington on December 2 and was met by the Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General Bradley. On December 3 he had a brief, personal conference with General Bradley after which he left a ten-page memorandum delineating Italy’s strategic and military situation and needs. On December 6 and again on December 20 he held some rather extensive discussions with representatives of the United States Army, Navy, and Air Force. In these conferences he was accompanied by three officers who had flown over with him: Colonel Domingo Fornara, Lieutenant Colonel Umberto Turrini, and Captain Giuseppe Cognazzo. He was also attended by three members of the staff of the Italian Embassy: Colonel Carlo Unia, Air Attaché; Naval Captain Franco Baslini, Naval Attaché; and Lieutenant Colonel Umberto De Martino, Military Attaché.
At the conference of December 6 General Marras discussed the Italian Army, its numerical strength, organization and equipment and its morale. He spoke of Communism in Italy, emphasizing the distinction between the 2 million registered party voters and the small number of active members. He stated that Italy considered herself a Western power and was ready to enter into pacts with the Western powers. He indicated the equipment which Italy would need: (1) if Italy were to form part of a Western pact; (2) for units presently organized or to be organized in the near future; (3) for repair of the present equipment. He outlined the general operations planned in case of aggression from the East.
At the close of the conference of December 6, General Marras left with Major General Ray T. Maddocks, Director of Plans and Operations Division, Department of the Army, a series of 16 specific questions to which he requested answers. These questions were assigned to appropriate officers of the United States Army, Navy, and Air Force who presented the official answers in the conference of December 20. Records of these discussions are in the files of the Department of Defense.
[Page 816]During the visit in the United States General Marras received, with the approval of the Department of State, the award of the Legion of Merit, Degree of Chief Commander. He returned to Italy by air on December 22.