840.20/9–1749: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Dunn) to the Secretary of State
priority
niact
2882. I have just seen the Prime Minister. He found it necessary to come to Rome because he was threatened with a breakup of the government on the issue of Italian representation on the regional committees. He has, after great difficulty, now received cabinet approval, including all parties represented in the government, of the following formula which he is instructing Sforza to have accepted as this is as far as the cabinet will go in making a compromise on this subject.
I quote the formula as follows:
“It is recognized that there are problems which are strictly common to the defense which concerns the regional groups of the north, of the west, and the south and western Mediterranean.
“It is therefore important that understandings be taken to assure full cooperation between two or, if necessary, between the three above mentioned regional groups.
“To this end a military committee of coordination will be created to serve under the military committee of the Atlantic Pact and will be composed of representatives of the three regional groups”.
He said he realized it was American insistence, notwithstanding opposition of some other governments, that brought Italy into the Pact, and he requested me to ask my government to use its best efforts to have this formula adopted, as in view of the strong feeling of the Socialist and Liberal members of the government he did not see anything that could be done if this formula or an equivalent form were not accepted.
He also said he had not been able to inform Count Sforza of the cabinet situation, and wished that to be kept entirely secret.