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

123 Luce, Clare Boothe: Telegram

No. 760
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Italy¹

top secret
priority

Washington, December 23, 1953.

2126. Eyes only for the Ambassador from the Secretary. Re your 1959.² Appreciate your offer come Washington for consultation. Hesitate suggest change your holiday schedule but hope you could arrive December 28 in view my possible imminent departure for Berlin conference. I have reports from our Defense Dept. friends that you have serious doubts concerning continuation of MDAP for Italy. Am aware suggestions urtels 1818 and 1876³ but have not seen in any of your reports to Department recommendation that end-item shipment to Italy should cease. Since this raises serious question our future policy toward Italy am most anxious have benefit your views this and related Italian problems before my departure.

Dulles

1. A draft of this telegram prepared by Jones, Dec. 21, is in file 765.5 MSP/12–2153. A note on Jones’ draft indicates that it was redrafted by Dulles before being sent. Attached to the draft was a memorandum of Dec. 21 from Merchant to Dulles which described a meeting earlier in the day in Dulles’ office to consider Luce’s views on continuing economic and military aid to Italy as reported in recent Embassy telegrams and through Department of Defense sources. The memorandum noted that it was agreed at the meeting that Luce should be asked to present her views personally to the Secretary of State, the Under Secretary of State, and representatives of the Department of Defense during her upcoming visit to Washington.
2. Telegram 1959 indicated that, at the Secretary of State’s request, Luce was returning to the United States, arriving in New York on Dec. 27. Luce indicated also that she planned to stay in the United States until Jan. 20 and that she would be able to come to Washington on Jan. 2 for consultations. (123 Luce, Clare Boothe)
3. In telegram 1818 from Rome, Dec. 7, Luce stated that the Embassy was currently appraising U.S. military, economic, and political negotiating objectives with regard to Italy and urged an early decision in Washington on the OSP program and on the level of defense support for Italy. She also expressed her belief in the necessity for full flexibility to use the overall U.S. aid package, including OSP, in negotiating for specific Italian Government internal anti-Communist policies, which she considered the most important single objective of U.S. policy. (765.5 MSP/12–753) In telegram 1876 from Rome, Dec. 11, Luce strongly urged that no announcement be made of aid to Italy until the United States was prepared to talk to the Italian Government along the lines recommended in telegram 1818. She also requested that no announcement be made of aid to Yugoslavia until the Italian political atmosphere was more propitious. (765.5 MSP/12–1153)