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

Italian Desk files, lot 57 D 56, “131.02—Italian VIP Visits to US”

No. 781
Memorandum of Conversation, by V. Lansing Collins of the Office of Western European Affairs

confidential

Washington, July 9, 1954.

• Subject: Visits of Prominent Italians to the United States.

Participants:

• Clare Boothe Luce, American Ambassador to Italy
• Mr. John W. Jones—WE
• Mr. Richard B. Freund—WE
• Mr. William E. Knight—WE
• Mr. V. Lansing Collins—WE

Ambassador Luce opened the conversation by pointing out the necessity for timing the visit of Signor Taviani,¹ Minister of Defense, so that he could take something back with him to Italy, preferably something which we would have to give to the Italians anyway. Mr. Jones agreed and indicated that Defense is looking for a suitable occasion and suitable timing. Mrs. Luce added that Mr. Tasca felt very strongly that Signor Vanoni ought to be brought over on some kind of official business now. Mrs. Luce also added that she was very keen on having Signor Fanfani brought over to the United States for an official visit and thought that something like the Herald Tribune Forum would be the proper occasion. She pointed out, however, that Signor Fanfani speaks no English and that, consequently, he might be accompanied by someone like Malagodi who speaks English excellently. She offered to approach Helen Reid and ask the Herald Tribune to invite him. She also mentioned the possibility of using the forum of the Philadelphia Bulletin.²

Mrs. Luce also suggested that Vigorelli be brought over and thought that maybe Mr. Stassen could find something for him to do. However, she noted that the value in bringing Italians to the United States was mostly to speed up or sharpen the attitudes of those favorably inclined and that in Vigorelli’s case more harm than good might be done as he might be “speeded up” in the wrong direction. The names of Signors Benevenuti, Matteotti and Saragat were also mentioned with the emphasis on the last. It was suggested that the A.F. of L. or C.I.O. would be the most likely primary host for Saragat. Likewise, it was suggested that the Sons of Italy might be able to do some inviting of prominent Italians.

Lastly, it was determined that if the Trieste question were settled and EDC ratified, Minister Scelba should be invited. Mrs. Luce promised to plant the idea with President Eisenhower when she saw him at the end of her leave.³

1. In a letter of Apr. 20 to Under Secretary Smith, Luce urged that leading personalities in the Italian Government and other prominent Italians, particularly Taviani, Fanfani, and Pella, be invited to the United States “so that they may see with their own eyes the tremendous thing America is, and hear with their own ears the great ideas, ideals and policies we stand for.” She stated that she had been informed that “reports from the Italian Embassy in Washington do not always reflect current American realities, and that the Government continues to be informed on the one hand that America will dish out dollars to Italy every time there is a crisis, no matter how they drag their feet, and on the other, if they refuse to do so, they are ‘going isolationist.’” The visits, in her opinion, would help dispel such ideas. She also stated her belief that the visits would help combat the trend toward neutralism in Italian foreign policy. (Luce papers, lot 64 F 26, “Correspondence & Miscellaneous 1954”)
2. A handwritten notation in the margin here reads: “Herald-Tribune Forum in fall; Phila. Bulletin in Feb. & Mar. McCardle used to be with the Bulletin.”
3. In a memorandum of July 27 to Murphy, Barbour briefly outlined the status of planning for visits of prominent Italians during the coming months as suggested by Luce. Barbour stated that Luce had recommended Taviani be invited only if he could be given something concrete to take home. Barbour also indicated that arrangements for possible visits by Fanfani and Saragat were being explored and that EUR was suggesting that the Embassy encourage a visit by Vanoni, who, it was rumored, might take Pella’s place in heading the Italian Delegation at the International Monetary Fund meeting in Washington in September. (Italian Desk files, lot 57 D 56, “131.02—Italian VIP Visits to US”)