258. Memorandum of Conversation0
SEGNI VISIT
SUBJECT
- Italian Immigration
[Here follows the same list of participants as Document 252.]
Foreign Minister Pella expressed the Italian Government’s appreciation over the passage of the recent immigration law permitting the issuance of nonquota visas to Italians registered under the preference quotas prior to the end of 1953. He also voiced the hope that the US would take the further step of allowing the issuance of unused quota numbers to those relatives and adult children of Italian immigrants already in the US, who are still on the waiting list.
Mr. Pella said the enactment of this immigration law was politically important in Italy. This action was proof of US friendship and contributed to the conduct of the anti-communist campaign in Italy. This could be contrasted with the absence of any similar effort on the part of the Soviet Union. Prime Minister Segni added his thanks for the passage of this legislation and called it a notable step forward.
The Secretary said that the Executive Branch of the US Government was sympathetic to the Italian immigration problem but noted that the passage of legislation in this regard was a matter within Congressional competence. The Prime Minister said the same situation existed with respect to his Parliament and he fully understood the problem.
- Source: Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 64 D 560, CF 1490. Secret. Drafted by Maestrone. See also Documents 252–257.↩