665.001/10–2551
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Deputy Director of the Office of Western European Affairs (Williamson)1
Subject: Italian Peace Treaty
| Participants: | Mr. K.D. Jamieson, British Embassy |
| Mr. P. Francfort, French Embassy | |
| Mr. F.T. Williamson—WE | |
| Mr. Howard J. Hilton, Jr.—WE |
Mr. Francfort expressed his concern over what he inferred to be the Department’s position regarding the treatment of the economic provisions of the Italian Peace Treaty. In elaborating his views, he [Page 728] referred to a cable sent to Paris following the meeting held October 152 with Mr. Luciolli in which reference was made that Mr. Byington had mentioned the possibility that other countries might conclude bilateral agreements with Italy covering various economic provisions. He implied that we might be thinking of taking such action in connection with the new understanding with the Italian Government on the Italian Peace Treaty.
I asked Mr. Hilton to review this question with Mr. Francfort. Mr. Francfort was informed that such was not our position and that our position had been made perfectly clear by Mr. Byington in the meeting on October 15. It was pointed out that in this meeting Mr. Luciolli had said, with reference to the economic clauses, that he wished to state informally that the Italian Government hoped some arrangements could be made to remove the discriminations implicit in some of those provisions. In this connection, he mentioned specifically, the establishment of a time limit during which claims might be presented and changes in the provisions relating to the Conciliation Commission which would be more in accord with general principles of international law. To these suggestions Mr. Byington had replied that such proposals should not in any way be associated with the present procedure for the revision of the Italian Peace Treaty. Mr. Luciolli had then said that this would be the case but had also indicated that the Italian Government was presently preparing some proposals covering the economic clauses.
Mention was then made that following Mr. Luciolli’s departure, Mr. Byington had expressed to both Mr. Jamieson and Mr. Francfort the view that we were all agreed that the “new understanding” would consist of our reply to the Italian Note and the Italian acceptance, and that this was fully understood by Mr. Luciolli. Mr. Byington had also pointed out in connection with the “new understanding” that the test of the Italian intention was represented by the draft Italian Note which had been presented. Since it made no reference to economic provisions, we felt that the Italian Government did not intend to raise economic questions in connection with this procedure for revision of the Italian Treaty. Mr. Byington had added, however, that the Italian Government could be expected to raise the question of economic provisions on every suitable occasion, but in our opinion, the present action on the Italian Peace Treaty did not provide a suitable occasion.
Mr. Francfort confirmed these statements as being his understanding of this meeting and said that we were fully agreed that this did not provide a suitable occasion but wondered what might be a suitable occasion. He said that the French Government would [Page 729] like to agree that no action would be taken on the economic provisions of the Italian Peace Treaty by France, the United States, the United Kingdom, without mutual consultation.
The reply was made that we could assure him that we were not now contemplating any action on the economic provisions of the Italian Peace Treaty; however, we could not give the assurances which he desired since that would be a commitment covering action which might be taken years in the future. Mr. Francfort said that his Government would like to consult whenever this question is raised by the Italians. He was told that the Department’s position on the question of consultation before any action is taken by the United States on any of the economic provisions of the Italian Treaty would be developed. In drawing this distinction between consultation before action is taken as contrasted with consultation when the question is raised, consideration was given to protecting our position if the Italians raise the question of the economic provisions at an inopportune time. Mr. Francfort said that he would appreciate an expression of the Department’s position on this question. Mr. Jamieson said that he had no instructions on this point. Mr. Francfort added that the question was being raised in London by the French Embassy.
In closing, Mr. Francfort was reassured that we were not contemplating any action on the economic clauses at this time in connection with current action on the Italian Peace Treaty. He expressed his satisfaction at the prospect of obtaining some reaction regarding the Department’s position on this question and indicated that his Government was prepared to give a similar commitment.