U.S. Efforts to Support Democratic Forces in Italy and to Reduce the Power of the Communist Party; U.S. Attitude Toward the Italian Government’s Possible “Opening to the Left” 1
1. Continued from Foreign Relations, 1952–1954, vol. VI, Part 2, pp. 1565 ff.
121. Outline Plan Prepared by the Operations Coordinating Board
Source: Deparment of State,OCB Files: Lot 62 D 430, Italy. Top Secret. In a memorandum attached to the source text, Charles E. Johnson stated that the OCB concurred in the Outline Plan at its meeting on September 26. An attached “Purpose and Use Statement,” not printed, indicates that the agencies involved agreed to implement the plan subject to later review and modification.
122. Letter From the Ambassador in Italy (Luce) to the Secretary of State
Source: Department of State, Luce Files: Lot 64 F 26, Letters, 1955–56. Top Secret; Official–Informal.
123. Memorandum of a Conversation, Walter Reed Hospital, Washington, November 16, 1956
Source: Department of State, Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 64 D 199. Confidential. Drafted by Elbrick. Secretary Dulles was a patient at the hospital.
125. Report Prepared by the Operations Coordinating Board
Source: Department of State, OCB Files: Lot 62 D 430, Italy. Secret. A Financial Annex detailing the amount of U.S. military aid to Italy from 1949 to February 1957 is not printed. According to an attached memorandum by Charles E. Johnson, the OCB concurred in this report for transmittal to the NSC at its meeting on February 13. The NSC noted the report at its meeting on March 14. (NSC Action No. 1684; ibid., S/S–NSC (Miscellaneous) Files: Lot 66 D 95, Records of Action by the National Security Council)
126. Telegram From the Embassy in Italy to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 033.1100–NI/3–1957. Limited Official Use. Also sent to Tunis.
127. Despatch From the Embassy in Italy to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 033.1100–NI/3–2857. Confidential.
128. Telegram From the Embassy in Italy to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 765.00/4–3057. Secret; Noforn. Repeated to London, Paris, and Bonn.
129. Memorandum of Conversation Between Secretary of State Dulles and Foreign Minister Martino, Bonn, May 1, 1957, 7:30 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 64 D 199. Secret. Drafted by Dulles. He and Foreign Minister Martino were at Bonn for the Ministerial Meeting of the North Atlantic Council, May 2–4.
131. Outline Plan Prepared by the Operations Coordinating Board
Source: Department of State, OCB Files: Lot 62 D 430, Italy. Top Secret. An attached “Purpose and Use Statement,” not printed, indicates that the agencies involved had agreed to implement the plan subject to later review and modification. In a memorandum attached to the source text, Charles E. Johnson stated that the OCB concurred in the Outline Plan at its meeting on May 8, with the minutes being approved on May 15. The Board agreed, however, that if the Segni government were not replaced by a government similar to it in outlook, the Outline Plan would have to be revised.
On May 27, copies of the Outline Plan were sent to Ambassador Zellerbach by the Department of State. In the cover letter, signed by Acting Secretary of State Herter, Zellerbach was instructed that responsibility for carrying out the operations described in the plan rested with the Department and with the Embassy and that Zellerbach should personally supervise its application. Assistant Secretary Elbrick had been designated as overseer of the plan, and Zellerbach was instructed to report to him in 6 months regarding the actions taken under the plan and the measure of success achieved. (Department of State, Central Files, 611.65/5–2757)
132. Telegram From the Embassy in Italy to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 765.00/5–2957. Confidential. Repeated to London, Paris, and Bonn.
134. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, July 17, 1957
Source: Department of State, Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 64 D 199. Confidential. Drafted by Jones.
135. Report Prepared by the Operations Coordinating Board
Source: Department of State, OCB Files: Lot 62 D 430, Italy. Secret. A Financial Annex is not printed.
136. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, September 10, 1957
Source: Department of State, Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 64 D 199, Italy. Confidential. Drafted by Engle. In a memorandum of September 4, Elbrick informed Secretary Dulles that Giuseppe Saragat was visiting the United States in an unofficial capacity, September 4–13, as a guest of the America–Italy Society. Elbrick recommended that the Secretary see Saragat because of his support for U.S. policies and the U.S. presence in Italy and because of his work in preventing his party from being forced into a coalition with the Nenni Socialists. (Ibid., Central Files, 765.00/9–457)
137. Telegram From the Embassy in Italy to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 665.88/9–1157. Secret.
138. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, September 25, 1957
Source: Department of State, Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 64 D 199. Confidential. Drafted by Torbert. Foreign Minister Pella was in the United States as head of the Italian Delegation to the Twelfth Session of the U.N. General Assembly. In telegram 991 from Rome, September 11, Jernegan reported that Pella wished to see Secretary Dulles while he was in the United States. The Italians considered the meeting essential to convince the Italian public that Italy’s views on world issues were being given proper consideration by the United States. Jernegan agreed with this and suggested that a meeting with Dulles would be helpful to the Italian Government. (Ibid., Central Files, 765.13/9–1157) In telegram 1086 to Rome, September 13, the Department of State replied that the Secretary could meet with Pella on September 25. (Ibid.)
Additional memoranda were prepared covering the discussion of disarmament, Tunis, the Italian-Iranian oil agreement, and the “Pella Plan” for Middle East development. (Ibid., Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 64 D 199, Italy)
139. Telegram From the Embassy in Italy to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.65/10–1057. Confidential. Zellerbach met with Dulles on September 25. After the meeting, Dulles spoke to the President concerning a possible message to Gronchi. [6½ lines of text not declassified]
Dulles sent a memorandum to Zellerbach, September 25, indicating the President’s assent and enclosing a text of the message. (Ibid., 711.11–EI/9–2557) Zellerbach returned to Italy on September 28.
140. Memorandum of a Conversation, White House, Washington, October 23, 1957
Source: Department of State, Presidential Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 66 D 204. Confidential. Drafted by Goodpaster.
142. Telegram From the Embassy in Italy to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 033.6511/12–1157. Secret. Repeated to Paris.