765.5/1–1650
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Director of the
Office of Western European Affairs (Achilles)
top secret
Washington, January 16,
1950.
| Participants: |
Mr. Bernard Burrows, Counselor, British Embassy |
|
T. C. Achilles, WE
|
Sir Derek Hoyer Millar1 and Mr. Burrows left the attached telegram on
Friday2 and said
they would like some indication of our views today, if possible. Since
it had not been possible for Mr. Rusk3 and Mr. Perkins4 to discuss it with the Little
Chiefs5 this morning, I told
Mr. Burrows when he called this afternoon that it had not been possible
to check with the military and that accordingly what I was telling him
was merely an off-hand State Department reaction.
I said that as far as we could see there was no possibility of securing
modification of the military clauses of the Italian peace treaty. In the
event of an armed attack against Italy by any other party to the Treaty,
its provisions would presumably automatically go by the board. Planning
against the contingency of such an attack was clearly necessary. It
must, however, be on the basis that Italy could meet the initial shock
only with the forces and equipment authorized by the Treaty. Planning
must be done on this basis and should be directed toward (1) most
effective utilization of authorized forces and equipment and (2)
increasing Italy’s military potential as rapidly as possible thereafter
if the initial shock could be withstood.
I promised to let him know if the military had any different ideas.
[Attachment]
Excerpt From a Telegram From the British Foreign
Office to the British Embassy in the United States
top secret
As you know, the North Atlantic Treaty Standing Group have asked
Regional Planning Groups for Strategic Concepts and outline defence
plans for their regions by 15th February.
[Page 1505]
2. In considering this request a point of some importance has arisen
in connection with the Southern European Western Mediterranean
Region.
3. It is evident that a proper plan to defend Italy will need more
forces than Italy at present possesses. It is also clear that other
Atlantic powers cannot detach troops for the defence of Italy. Italy
can no doubt raise the necessary manpower but anything other than a
very small increase of her present forces will overstep the limits
imposed upon her by the Peace Treaty.
4. In effect therefore no adequate plan for the defence of Italy can
be made except on the assumption that the Peace Treaty limits on the
size of the Italian armed forces will not apply. If United Kingdom
and French representatives take part in planning in the Southern
European Western Mediterranean Group on this assumption they will be
opening the door to Italian pressure for revision of the Peace
Treaty6 or for neglecting its terms. We do not think that
this difficulty would be materially lessened even if the UK
representative was instructed to make clear that in taking part in
such planning he did not commit His Majesty’s Government to any
decision which would allow the plan to be implemented. The Italians
would naturally realise that the plans were in fact a commitment and
that it was in the interests of the Atlantic powers as a whole to
allow them to be implemented.
5. Whatever our views may be as to the likelihood of our being
ultimately compelled by Soviet action to ignore the provisions of
the Peace Treaty, it seems clear to us that some planning will have
to proceed on the assumption that the provisions of the Peace Treaty
may have to be ignored. In any case a decision must be reached in
the next few days on the attitude which we should adopt in the
Southern European Western Mediterranean Regional Planning Group and
before taking it, we must, if possible, know the views of the
Americans.
6. Will you therefore please put the problem informally to the State
Department and obtain their views. You will no doubt wish to consult
B.J.S.M. before approaching the
State Department as the B.J.S.M.
may have information bearing on this issue which is not available
here.
7. We should be grateful for at least a preliminary reply by Tuesday
17th January.
