700.00 (S)/10–2750: Circular telegram
The Secretary of State to Certain Diplomatic Offices 1
Infotel. Re Italian Defense Minister Pacciardi’s desire to discuss with us use of Ital manpower and production facilities under Atlantic Pact,2 we intend to inform Pacciardi that we regard North Atlantic Treaty organization as medium through which decisions must be reached as to responsibilities of member nations under Atlantic Pact plans and equitable sharing of econ and fin burdens and that we are not prepared or willing to adopt bilateral approach to solution these problems. We are not prepared to discuss aid to Italy on its part of high priority production program here but will do so through Emb Rome. If Pacciardi raises question of Ital peace treaty, we intend to inform him that we will not contribute fin aid to assist Italy to produce for export to other govts articles of mil equipment whose production or export by Italy is prohibited by terms peace treaty. While peace treaty obviously sets limitations on Ital defense effort and this problem must be continued to be studied we do not consider that Italy has exhausted opportunities for increasing its strength within those limitations. We will urge necessity for action by Ital Govt to increase efficiency its forces and potential for defense of Italy and we will stress qualitative improvement of existing forces and opportunities for those forces to absorb additional production.
- Sent to Brussels, Copenhagen, The Hague, Lisbon, London, Oslo, and Paris.↩
- Pacciardi approached Ambassador Dunn in Rome on October 23 concerning this matter. Dunn reported on the conversation in his telegram 1787, October 23, not printed. The Department of State views on the subject, as summarized below, were transmitted to Dunn in telegram 1780 to Rome, October 26, not printed. (765.5/10–2350)↩