269. Memorandum of Conversation0
FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING
Washington, D.C., April 12–14, 1960
SUBJECT
- EEC and EFTA
[Here follows the same list of participants as Document 267.]
Mr. Segni said that he expected to discuss the problem of the EEC and EFTA in further detail with the Under Secretary on April 14.1 However, he wished to say to the Secretary that Italy favored in principle the acceleration of the Common Market. This acceleration would permit Italy to lower its tariffs which would then be cut nearly in half. At the same time Italy did not of course wish to see Europe divided in two.
The Secretary said that the situation was complicated from the factual point of view since it was difficult to know who did what to whom in raising or lowering tariffs. We were endeavoring to find out the implications of these changes. We were glad that the Italians were going ahead with the Common Market on an accelerated basis.
The Italian Foreign Minister said that Italy felt that acceleration was desirable for both political and economic reasons. From the political point of view it was necessary in order to prevent developments similar to those which had led to the two World Wars. He expressed appreciation of the fact that the United States had always encouraged Italy in its attitude toward the Common Market.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 396.1–W/4–1360. Confidential. Drafted by Stabler and approved by S on April 22. See also Documents 267–268 and 270.↩
- See Document 271.↩