247. Memorandum of Conversation0

PSV/MC/6

SEGNI VISIT

SUBJECT

  • Alto Adige

[Here follows the same list of participants as Document 242.]

Mr. Segni then turned to the subject of the current dispute between Italy and Austria on the subject of the Alto Adige, which had been raised by Austrian Foreign Minister Kreisky in the UN. He said that the status of this territory had been regulated in 1946 by an agreement between Gruber and De Gasperi which had been incorporated in the peace treaty.1 Under this agreement the Adige enjoyed a considerable [Page 550] autonomy. Mr. Gruber and other Western representatives in 1948 had expressed full satisfaction with the arrangements. Under the agreement, over two hundred thousand Italian citizens who had chosen Germany during the war came back into Italy. The Italians were carrying out the provisions of the agreement by voting special laws, which they were regularly implementing. The area had three deputies and two Senators in the Italian Parliament. Recently there had been a movement started among this German-speaking population. It had now become clear that they wanted not just autonomy but separation from Italy and reunion with Austria. This was a position which Italy could not accept. The status of the area had originally been established in 1919 and really reconfirmed only in 1947. Even the Italian Communists could not accept separation of the Adige from Italy.

Mr. Segni emphasized that the Italians had really tried to carry out the Gruber-De Gasperi agreement, though there were a few steps still to be completed. He described the area as having a very mixed population, not only of German and Italian speaking elements, but also Ladinos, who are more Italian than German. The region was a part of the territory of Italy and the Italians would not give it up. It was possible that the movement had been agitated from Moscow. In any case, the people who were making the most noise were Nazis twenty years ago. If the movement were to be successful, it would lead to danger from Austria tomorrow, later maybe even from Germany, though, he noted in this latter connection, there was practically no German support for the movement today. However, if the movement were further agitated, it could create an abyss between Italy and Germany.

After this exposition the President turned to Secretary Herter and asked him whether the State Department had checked this matter. The Secretary replied that he had heard Austrian Foreign Minister Kreisky on the subject. The US took the position that this was not a matter for the UN, but a dispute between two friendly nations which we hoped would be settled amicably between them.

The President suggested that we consider speaking about the question to Kreisky and possibly even to Chancellor Adenauer. He then assured Mr. Segni that we would make efforts to pour oil on these troubled waters.

The meeting terminated at 3:00 p.m.

  1. Source: Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 64 D 560, CF 1490. Secret. Drafted by Kohler and cleared by S and the White House on October 14. The meeting was held at the White House. See also Documents 242246.
  2. Reference is to the Treaty of Paris, ratified September 15, 1947. Regarding the Gruber-De Gasperi agreement, see footnote 2, Document 239.