127. Despatch From the Embassy in Italy to the Department of State1
REF
- Embassy’s despatch 1256 dated March 26, 19572
SUBJECT
- Conversations during Visit of Vice President Nixon
During the visit of Vice President Nixon to Rome it was not planned that he broach any substantive matters with the officials of the Italian Government with whom he talked. Inevitably, however, the Italian officials themselves brought up subjects on which they believed the Vice President either should be informed or could be helpful. Listed below are points of interest in this connection.
1. Consultation
President Gronchi, Prime Minister Segni and Foreign Minister Martino all brought up the long-standing Italian desire to be consulted promptly on matters affecting the Western alliance or any substantial part of it. They emphasized the necessity that Washington be convinced of the justice of the Italian claim, pointing out that United States prestige in Italy suffers when we neglect them in favor of prior or exclusive consultation with the British and French. The Vice President replied that he would take this up with President Eisenhower and with the National Security Council upon his return to Washington.
2. African Economic Development
President Gronchi spoke at some length on the need for European cooperation with the newly independent African states. He pointed out Italy’s special position in this regard in the sense of cultural and geographic propinquity; furthermore, Italy’s colonial period now being history, Italians enjoy the confidence of the African peoples.
Gronchi brought up the desirability of creating an international organization for financing economic development of the African states, in order to avoid the fear of domination which could be aroused by a single nation (i.e., U.S.) program. He thought that this organization could include the European nations, and that the USSR should be [Page 407] invited to join. If the Soviet Union refused to participate, such refusal would be to its discredit; if it joined, the other nations would have a better opportunity to keep track of Russian activities in Africa. Gronchi did not mention the United Nations in connection with his idea.
3. Italian Political Situation
Prime Minister Segni produced a few thoughts on the internal political situation including his doubt that socialist unification could be achieved before the next political elections. When these elections take place, it is Segni’s belief that the PCI will suffer a loss of 10%, and that if the socialist parties run together they, too, will lose ground. If the PSI and the PSDI run separately, however, each should make a slight gain.
Senate President Merzagora, in discussing Italy’s internal situation, said that he expects the social and economic development programs of the last 10 years to bear significant fruit during the course of the next 5 years. Once past the next political elections, the PCI will diminish rapidly as an effective force in Italian politics as people begin to appreciate the benefits of 10 years of Center government achievements. (It is, perhaps, of interest that none of the Italian leaders mentioned the Vanoni Plan.)
For the Ambassador:
Counselor of Embassy