665.001/5–1051
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Director of the Office of Western European Affairs (Byington)
Subject: Statement Regarding Revision Italian Peace Treaty
| Participants: | Ambassador Tarchiani, Italian Embassy |
| Mr. Byington, WE |
Ambassador Tarchiani reviewed the present electoral situation in Italy and the hopeful prospect that the communists might lose out in a number of their important municipal strongholds. He said that the government was under constant attack with regard to its foreign policy and its failure to achieve beneficial results for Italy, while on the other hand giving way on such important issues as the former Italian colonies. He said that it would have a very favorable effect on the electorate if the Secretary should make a favorable statement with regard to the progress Italy had made in its recovery to date, its full participation in the North Atlantic Treaty, and that its status in the family of nations had now in fact surpassed its former condition under the peace treaty. At the same time the fact that the Soviet satellites had rearmed beyond their treaty limitations would have to be taken into consideration in connection with Italy’s relationship to the NATO. He pointed out that Mr. Schuman had already made a statement praising Italy and had mentioned the peace treaty and that a statement from the United States would have far more weight than anything that was said either in France or Great Britain. He recognized the necessity that nothing be said which would have a harmful effect on the present discussions in Paris but he believed that there were enough statements already on the record with regard to Italy by the United States Government representatives to cover the situation without detriment to the Paris talks if publicized now. There was a real necessity that some inspirational statement should be issued, and he [Page 605] hoped that the Department could give this informal request on his part favorable consideration.
I pointed out the difficulties imposed by the present talks with the Soviet Union and the fact that the agenda under discussion now contained the word “fulfillment” in connection with the peace treaty and said that I thought there would be considerable difficulty in doing what he wanted. I said that as he knew the Department was very anxious to help in any way that might be possible against the communists in the forthcoming Italian municipal elections and that his suggestion would be given the fullest consideration and certainly not be rejected lightly. A great deal depended on the timing and current developments in Paris. I promised to see what could be done.1
- In telegram 5036 to Rome, May 11, the Department of State informed the Embassy of Tarchiani’s visit and stated that unless there was a breakdown in the Paris talks, no statement about the revision of the Treaty of Peace with Italy would be issued at this time. (665.001/5–1151)↩