840.00/1–2449: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
314. Schuman1 tells me he is willing to go along with us in general and in particular and he is willing to go along with admission of Italy to Brussels Pact. (Deptels 57, January 19 and 185, January 21.2) He tells us however that all other parties (especially British) are strongly opposed to Brussels Pact formula and that French Ambassador to Italy informs them Italians themselves are not at all keen. In circumstances he does not expect this solution to be approved by Brussels Pact Consultative Council3 in their London meeting this week.
In talking to other officials in Quai d’Orsay they state that British objection is mainly based on reluctance to have Italy represented on London Military Committee. They point out that wording of Article IX of Brussels Pact would permit inclusion of Italy with strings, but feel that this solution involving special status for Italy and incomplete membership would be open to same objections as alternatives in final paragraph Deptel 57.
It is for these reasons that they anticipate solution through Italian participation in European Council. (In circumstances, French will either have to drop their objection to inviting Scandinavians and Italians to join European Council prior to agreed position along line of [Page 46] European federation question (mytel 263, January 21), or British will have to revise their position re consultative assembly on which other four are agreed.)
Sent Department; repeated London 73, Brussels 26, The Hague 5, Rome 23.