No. 768
Editorial Note
As noted in the Third Progress Report on NSC 67/3, dated May 20, 1953, the Department of State was to prepare after the June 7 national elections in Italy a new draft NSC paper on Italy reflecting conclusions drawn from the outcome of those elections. (S/S–NSC files, lot 63 D 351, NSC 67 Series) A memorandum of August 4, 1953, from the Director of the Office of Western European Affairs, Homer M. Byington, to the Executive Director of the Bureau of European Affairs, Tyler Thompson, authorized the preparation of such a paper. (611.65/8–1253) On January 18, 1954, Richard Freund of the Office of Western European Affairs circulated a new draft statement of policy on Italy for comment by various Bureaus and Offices within the Department of State. (S/P–NSC files, lot 62 D 1, NSC 5411 Series) Comments by Murphy, Beam, Scammon, Colbert, Barbour, and Elbrick on this draft statement of policy are in file 765.00/1–2054. On January 29, 1954, William E. Knight of the Office of Western European Affairs also circulated for comment within the Department of State a 2-page draft Financial Appendix and a 26-page draft staff study as supplements to the January 18 draft statement of policy. These three initial working drafts and the comments on them from within the Department of State were considered by the Planning Board of the National Security Council at its meetings on February 4 and 25 and March 1, 5, and 10. A draft policy statement on United States policy toward Italy, as approved by the Planning Board at its meeting on March 10 and circulated as part of a new draft NSC paper on Italy (NSC 5411), is printed infra.