740.00119 Control (Italy)/9–2845
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Director of the Office of European Affairs (Matthews)
The Italian Ambassador called on me this afternoon at his request and left with me five papers, copies of which are attached.97 The first three have to do with conditions in Venezia Giulia as reported to the Ambassador by his Foreign Office. One of them draws the Department’s “serious attention” to the question of repatriation as soon as possible of Italians who were deported by the Yugoslavs from that area, the necessity for controlling Slovene immigration into Venezia Giulia, and the need to establish “personal security” in the area east of the Morgan line. I told Mr. Tarchiani that these questions would be given prompt attention in the Department.
The fourth paper he left gives the text of the Soviet reply to the Italian move sounding out the three major Allies as to the desirability of attempting to arrange direct negotiations between Yugoslavia and Italy over the Venezia Giulia territorial question. The Soviet reply indicated that Russia is ready to “associate itself with London and Washington in a joint action on the Belgrade Government”. Mr. Tarchiani explained that he had already raised this question with Mr. Hickerson98 and received what he considered a satisfactory reply. He said that the whole approach was a matter of internal Italian politics undertaken with a view to cutting the ground from under the Italian Communists who have urged that with Russian support a friendly and satisfactory agreement could be reached directly with the Yugoslav Government. The Ambassador indicated that he did not consider this maneuver of much importance and that in view of the discussions held at the Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting in [Page 1202] London99 on this question he thought any direct approach by Italy to Yugoslavia now would be out of date as well as futile. In reply to my specific query he said that he did not consider any further communication from the Department is required.
The fifth communication to which Mr. Tarchiani attached apparently greater importance requests the Department to “kindly examine the possibility of backing, at the London Conference, the substitution of the Armistice with an instrument of provisional peace”. He said that it seemed to him that the negotiation of the definitive peace treaty for his country would at best be a long drawn out affair and that in view of this prospective delay, the continuance of the present armistice regime was unfortunate for his country and could only serve to weaken the present Italian Government. He takes a rather pessimistic view of the ability of the present Government to solve the many problems now facing Italy but feels that it is the only possible government under the circumstances and should be given all possible support. He is strongly of the opinion that a change from the present armistice regime which he felt could be accomplished by a simple exchange of notes would be an important factor in strengthening the Government’s hand internally. I told the Ambassador that we were, as he knew, in principle entirely sympathetic with the idea of getting away from the existing onerous armistice regime but that I could give him no indication of the possibility of taking steps to this end until the Secretary’s return from the Conference. As he knew, I added, the whole question of Allied relationships with Italy is under active study at London and that we could not possibly take any action on this request prior to the Secretary’s return. I promised him, however, to seek an immediate opportunity to bring the question to Mr. Byrnes’ attention upon his return from London.
In conclusion, the Ambassador asked several pertinent questions with regard to the discussions at the Council of Foreign Ministers to all of which I replied that I had no information and could not possibly give him any “interpretation” of the proceedings. (His queries had specifically to do with what was meant by “rectification” of Italian frontiers with Austria, i.e., whether the whole of the upper Adige was involved, and the present status of proposals governing Italian colonies.)
- The first three are printed infra; the last two not found attached.↩
- John D. Hickerson, Deputy Director, Office of European Affairs.↩
- For documentation relating to the Council of Foreign Ministers, London, September 11–October 2, 1945, see vol. ii, pp. 99 ff.↩