840.20/1–1049: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Dunn) to the Acting Secretary of State
101. The Foreign Minister asked me to see him this afternoon and showed me a copy of the memorandum he sent to the Italian Ambassador on the position of Italy with respect to participating in western defense arrangements. I consider that this memorandum and the remarks the Minister made to me this afternoon may be taken as a reply to your No. 21 of January 5, 7 p. m.
The Minister said that the Italian Government was fully agreed on desirability of entering western defense arrangements and of course would prefer inclusion in North Atlantic Pact. When I noted that memorandum to Tarchiani did not specifically ask to join Atlantic Pact, he said Italian Government did not feel it would be proper to ask at this time although that was Italian desire. He said in view of reports that other governments were opposed to Italian entry now, government felt here they should frankly set forth their position and hope that a favorable reply to this memorandum would be the key to open the door for their entry in the pact. He said government would like it clearly understood they were not presuming to make any conditions whatever, but in the face of reports that some of the countries concerned considered Italian military weakness as a result of the peace treaty made Italy not as welcome as otherwise might be, government hoped for some encouraging response from US which would make it possible for them to be included among the original signatories to the pact. This, to them, would be preferable to coming in by way of membership in the Brussels Pact as public opinion here had only confidence in an arrangement in which the US was included.
It is my feeling that every favorable consideration should be given to including Italy as a contiguous power in the Atlantic Pact as those responsible for government of Italy now have done splendid work in bringing Italy forward along with western democratic nations, and we should give full encouragement to supporting that movement here and keeping Italian nation on our list with respect to any aggression in the future which might come from non-democratic sources.