114. Editorial Note
On August 8, the Operations Coordinating Board approved a progress report of the same date on “United States Policy Toward Italy” (NSC 5411/2), for transmittal to the National Security Council. NSC 5411/2, April 15, 1954, is printed in Foreign Relations, 1952–1954, volume VI, Part 2, page 1677. The progress report, which covered the period from January 4 to August 8, stated that no modification in NSC 5411/2 was necessary. It indicated that the left was not in a position to be an immediate threat to the Italian Government, that the Segni government appeared to be in a strengthened position, and that the Italian economy showed increasing productive ability. (Department of State, OCB Files: Lot 62 D 430, Italy)
The NSC discussed the report at its meetings of September 27 and October 4. The memorandum of discussion at the 298th meeting, September 27, indicates that [1½ lines of text not declassified] the item of major interest concerning Italy was the possibility of the reunification of the two wings of the Italian Socialist movement, although the actual unification would not occur for some time. Such a development, [less than 1 line of text not declassified] might be dangerous in that [Page 373] Nenni’s larger party might absorb Saragat’s smaller one, thus placing the united Socialist movement under Communist control. Nenni’s intentions might even be part of a larger Communist design to create popular front governments in Western Europe. Action on the progress report was deferred until the next meeting. (Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records)
The memorandum of discussion at the 299th meeting of the NSC, October 4, indicates that the discussion of the progress report focused on military aid for Italy and Italy’s role in NATO. The NSC noted the progress report and the President approved it on October 8. The memorandum of discussion at the 299th meeting is in the Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records.