Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Western Europe and Canada, Volume VI, Part 2

Secretary’s Letters, lot 56 D 459, “I–J”

No. 740
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of Protocol (Simmons)

confidential

Washington, May 5, 1953.

• Subject: Call on the President of the Ambassador of Italy

Participants:

• The President
• The Ambassador of Italy
• John F. Simmons, Chief of Protocol

His Excellency Signor Alberto Tarchiani, Ambassador of Italy, called by appointment on the President at 11:30 a.m. today in order to present a fine camera of Italian workmanship. He mentioned his satisfaction at the President’s choice of Mrs. Luce as our new Ambassador to Italy and the President expressed approval of her ability.¹

In the course of the conversation, the Ambassador said that Italy’s three greatest problems now are (1) Trieste, (2) emigration of Italians to this country and (3) our tariffs.

The greatest of these problems, he mentioned, was Trieste. He said that an early and satisfactory solution to this difficult question, especially before the Italian elections next month, would go far to stabilize Europe. He described the Italian electorate as being one-third communist and seven per cent extreme right wing, two difficult elements to deal with. He said that Italy has frequently offered compromise solutions on the Trieste question and that if Marshal Tito would go equally far on his compromise offers the question could be quickly solved. The Italians would not insist on an extreme solution, yet Trieste represented a sacrifice of 700,000 Italian casualties in the First World War.

The Ambassador said that the emigration question is a serious one, too, and has assumed the proportions of a political problem in Italy. The question of our tariffs, he added, is also vital, although not such a contentious one politically.

The President said that he hoped sincerely that a reasonable solution could be found for these problems. He mentioned in particular how important it would be for all concerned if a way out of present difficulties could be found for the Trieste problem.

1. On Jan. 20, Ambassador Bunker submitted his letter of resignation to President Eisenhower. On Mar. 2 the President, following Senate confirmation, appointed Clare Boothe Luce as Bunker’s successor. A copy of statements made by Department of Defense officials on various military topics concerning Italy at a briefing for Luce on Mar. 11 is in Italian Desk files, lot 58 D 156, “101.04—Position Papers and Policy Statements”. Bunker departed Italy on Apr. 3, leaving Durbrow in charge of the Embassy. Luce sailed from New York on Apr. 14 and arrived in Rome on Apr. 22, after a brief stopover in Paris. On Apr. 28, when she called on President Einaudi to present her credentials, she was informed that he was ill but that she should consider herself as having presented her credentials and having been accepted as Ambassador to Italy. She subsequently presented her credentials to Einaudi on May 4. Documentation concerning Bunker’s resignation and Luce’s appointment is in files 123 Bunker, Ellsworth and 123 Luce, Clare Boothe.