840.20/5–648: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in France
1552. We consider question of including Italy in Brussels Treaty defense system one for present parties to decide. In response to questions from French, Brit, Belgians and Italians (Embtel 2275 Apr 291) as to our attitude we have replied that in our opinion Italy’s inclusion would be natural and desirable. We suspect French are seeking hide behind alleged Benelux reluctance. While we have had no definite statement from Dutch Spaak has repeatedly stated there would be no objection admitting Italy. We doubt he would speak so strongly if Dutch objected.
Question of revision or abrogation of military clauses in Italian Treaty is thorny but we hope practicable steps can be found and taken in due course. We do not follow French thinking that Italian adherence to Brussels Treaty could be interpreted as official abrogation of military clauses. Soviets would undoubtedly howl but multiplicity of recent Soviet-satellite military agreements provides ample proof hypocrisy any objections they may raise.
[Page 115]We assume true French preoccupation is over increased liabilities Italy’s inclusion would entail. We recognize this as practical military problem which they and other parties cannot ignore but feel that American support as promised by Pres (which will of course be implemented) outweighs increased liability and that furthermore only sure way of preventing any part of Western Europe being overrun is to stop World War III before it starts. Convincing evidence of collective determination, including that of US, to confront any overt attack with wholehearted resistance plus integrated and progressively stronger western military potential seems best means of doing so.
While our thinking on Greece and Turkey has not fully crystallized we believe Italy fits naturally into Western European defense system but are inclined to question practicability of separate Mediterranean system. We likewise fail to see how separate Mediterranean system would in any way make Italian military clause problem any easier.
We recognize military importance of including Spain but regard this question likewise as one for the European countries to decide themselves.
Sent Paris as 1552; rptd Lond as 1626; Rome as 1297; Brussels as 668; Hague as 169.
- In telegram 2275 from Paris, not printed, Caffery informed the Department that French views on inclusion of Italy in a Western defense system based on the Brussels Treaty were not yet crystallized, and urgently requsted the Department’s views on the matter (840.20/4–2848).↩