Office of the Historian

365.1115/3–3148: Telegram

The Ambassador in Italy (Dunn) to the Secretary of State

top secret
Rome, March 31, 1948—11 a. m.

1416. Deptel 842, March 26.1 Embassy not advising any Americans to leave Italy at this time nor is it taking any steps now to repatriate Americans even though, by so doing, number of possible eventual evacuees would be decreased as knowledge of any such action on its [Page 868] part would be bound to become widely well-known and would be immediately interpreted as indicating lack of confidence in election results and in present government’s ability to maintain order. Evacuation plan (Deptel 850, March 26)2 being sent Department in confidential air pouch leaving Rome April 4.3

Dunn
  1. In this telegram, not printed, the Department advised that Navy facilities might be used in case of hasty evacuation; that possible ports of embarkation would depend on local conditions at deadline (365.1115/3–2548).↩
  2. Not printed.↩
  3. Despatch 547, March 31, 1948, not printed.↩