865.014/12–448
The Acting Secretary of State to the Prime Minister of Italy (De Gasperi)
My Dear Mr. Prime Minister: The President and the Secretary have given most careful and sympathetic consideration to the representations of Ambassador Tarchiani, and Your Excellency’s personal message delivered to the Secretary by Ambassador Quaroni in Paris, concerning the question of the disposition of the former Italian colonies. The decision has now been reached that in view of all of the considerations involved the position supported by the United States Delegation to the General Assembly represents a solution which will best meet the wishes and promote the welfare of the inhabitants and further the interests of peace and security.
Throughout the consideration of this problem, the United States Government has given the most sympathetic regard to Italy’s economic and demographic needs, and has kept in mind also the question of the colonies when other measures to assist the Italian people in their reconstruction of a prosperous, free and peaceful nation have been studied. In searching for the most just and equitable solution of this difficult problem the United States Government has had to take into consideration the interests and desires of the inhabitants of the territories, and also the practical question of Italy’s economic position and the possibility that the burden of administration of some of the areas might seriously retard Italian recovery at home.
The United States Government has fully and actively supported an Italian trusteeship for Somaliland, and it is hoped this proposal will be approved by the General Assembly. This will provide an opportunity for Italians to resume their work of developing this area for [Page 968] the mutual benefit of the indigenous population and of Italians who will be able to emigrate to the territory. Moreover, the United States position favoring postponement of a decision on Tripolitania this year does not preclude eventual Italian trusteeship, and it is intended to make this point clear at Paris. We intend as well to take a strong position with regard to the return of former Italian residents of Triplolitania and all of Eritrea. We are also including in the American draft resolution a clause designed to guarantee the human rights of all inhabitants of the territory which would provide for the protection of the interests and rights of both those Italians resident in Eritrea and those who may return.
In conveying this decision to Your Excellency I wish to renew the President’s assurances that the Government of the United States maintains steadfastly its policy of cooperation with the Italian Government for the rebuilding of a society wherein the Italian and American peoples and all of the freedom-loving people of the world can live and work together in peace and security. Although the proposed solution of this one problem may be less favorable to Italy than that for which your Government has so earnestly appealed, I hope that Your Excellency will appreciate the reasons underlying this decision.
With assurances of my highest regard,
Sincerely yours,