Office of the Historian

740.0011 EW (Peace)/7–847: Telegram

The Ambassador in Italy (Dunn) to the Secretary of State

confidential
Rome, July 8, 1947—6 p. m.

1872. We have been informed confidentially by Foreign Minister that Italian Ambassador Moscow1 has reported to Italian Government in response to its request that according to best information he can obtain Soviet Government is not interested in ratifying Italian treaty at present. According to our informant Brosio reported that in his conversations with US Embassy Moscow Soviet disinclination to ratify at present time had been confirmed. Brosio’s telegram plus uneasiness toward Soviet attitude felt in government and Foreign Ministry (see my 1812 of July 32) caused temporary panic here with result that government last few days has been wavering in its original intention to support and bring to vote treaty approval decree in Constituent Assembly this week (see my 1810 of July 32).

According to most recent information, however, it is reported that treaty ratification in Assembly will proceed as usual and government will definitely not attempt to obstruct it. Determining factor in government’s decision to go ahead regardless of Soviet action3 is said to be strong telegram from Quaroni, Italian Ambassador to France, pointing out many disadvantages to Italy if government failed to support ratification before Assembly at last moment.

Sent Department as 1872, repeated Moscow 99, Paris 228, Belgrade 88, London 121, copy to Leghorn.

Dunn
  1. Manlio Giovanni Brosio.↩
  2. Not printed.↩
  3. Not printed.↩
  4. In telegram No. 2357, July 6, from Moscow, not printed, Ambassador Smith reported that he had been informed in strictest confidence that the “Rumanian Ambassador Moscow inquired Soviet Foreign Office probability early ratification Rumanian treaty and was told by Malik that this very difficult question since within province Supreme Soviet. When Ambassador countered that article 49 of Constitution empowered Presidium to deal directly with such matters Malik evidenced patent displeasure and gave Rumanian no satisfaction.” Ambassador Smith suggested that “this transparent excuse for nonperformance” was not an encouraging sign for early ratification. (740.0011 EW (Peace)/7–647)↩