840.50 Recovery/11–249: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Dunn) to the Secretary of State
3491. For Foster ECA. In their recent private conversations with Senatorial and Congressional visitors both De Gasperi and Sforza have spoken in frank terms along following lines:
In present world situation Europe must either unite politically and economically or perish. Italian Government is fully aware of this fact and is prepared to go the whole road. Italian backing for Council of Europe, Customs Union with France, exchange convertibility between France, Italy and Benelux, is example of Italian initiative along general direction. De Gasperi is convinced that present pace of progress towards European unity is too slow to succeed in time. He appeals [Page 350] to US in belief US is only nation in position to convince individual sovereign powers that they must act. He says we should not hesitate to use our present economic aid and future military aid to persuade each of the 16 nations into closer cooperation with each other. De Gasperi fully realizes English dilemma between its responsibilities to other members of Commonwealth and as member of West Europe, but is convinced that if the other nations in Western Europe are brought together economically and politically, England will also take the step in order to maintain leadership. Western Europe is today still keenly sensitive to the influence of UK and Union would not work without British participation. Union must include Germany and he feels also eventually Spain. He appeals to US to exert its full influence before it is too late.
Sent Department; repeated Paris 363 for Hoffman and Harriman, London 230, Frankfort 80 for McCloy.