740.5/12–2951: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bruce) to the Secretary of State 1
3870. From MacArthur. Gens Eisenhower and Gruenther lunched yesterday with De Gasperi, Zoppi, and Amb Quaroni at Ital Emb. Fol is résumé of conversation:
Gen Eisenhower inquired as to progress being made in EDC conf2 stressing vital importance of reaching agreement prior to Lisbon NAT mtg. De Gasperi said he fully appreciated necessity of agreement but unfortunately cld not point thus far to substantial progress in this direction in present EDC mtg. Unfortunately there was still not agreement on certain fundamental issues and Benelux countries were being very difficult. De Gasperi hopes and believes it will be possible to get agreement on fundamental principles of EDC by Lisbon which wld insure early action thereafter but seemed to doubt as things now stand that completely agreed draft treaty will be ready by Lisbon. He urged that US encourage and press Benelux to go along and also hoped US cld get UK to take similar action vis-à-vis Benelux.
De Gasperi then stressed need for eventual polit and econ unification of WE continental countries. Gen Eisenhower made ref to his July London speech3 and agreed eventual unification is essential if security and well-being of WE peoples is to be assured. He said it seemed clear that on an individual and separate natl basis the WE countries do not have capability of sustaining necessary def effort over coming years while at same time holding out hope for better way of life. Only by making maximum collective use of their individual capabilities—econ, finan, production, and manpower, etc.—can WE goal of security with econ and social stability be achieved. While such unification is a not possible overnight and will take time it shld be [Page 984] primary objective. In his view both Schuman plan and EDC are practical steps in this direction. De Gasperi mentioned difficulties of obtaining adequate public and Parl understanding and support for what we are all trying to do. Eisenhower agreed but expressed view that there were not enough leadership in enlightening public and Parl opinion. Gen Eisenhower said if it would be helpful or useful, he wld be delighted to have a group of 20 to 30 Italian Parliamentarians visit SHAPE. Furthermore, he wished De Gasperi to know that if ever latter has any questions or thoughts about matters within scope of Gen Eisenhower’s activity he shld not hesitate to bring them to his attention. Furthermore, if De Gasperi ever wished discuss problems related to SHAPE’s mission with him, Gen Eisenhower or Gen Gruenther wld arrange to come to Rome to see him.
De Gasperi expressed appreciation and seemed genuinely touched by Gen Eisenhower’s offer and his understanding of De Gasperi’s problems.
At Gen Eisenhower’s invitation, De Gasperi, Pacciardi, and Pella visited SHAPE this morning where De Gasperi gave good informal talk to staff. [MacArthur.]
- This telegram was repeated for information to Rome and London.↩
- See the editorial note, p. 980.↩
- The reference here is to General Eisenhower’s speech on the unity of Western Europe made before the English-Speaking Union at London on July 3, 1951; for the text of the notes for the address, see Department of State Bulletin, July 30, 1951, p. 163.↩