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

Italian Desk files, lot 57 D 56, “131—Italians in U.S.”

No. 785
The Counselor of Embassy in Italy (Durbrow) to the Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Merchant)

confidential
official–informal

Rome, September 2, 1954.

Dear Livie: You have in all probability seen our telegram 819 of August 30¹ concerning the visit of Vanoni, Ferrari-Aggradi and Menichella to the United States for the International Monetary Fund meeting. This telegram gives the details, so far as we know them, of their visit, and a further communication will be sent if Vanoni expresses any more views or indicates the time when he plans to leave from the United States.

I know that the Department will be flooded with major personalities from all parts of the world during the IMF meeting and that each one of them will want to see the Secretary, you, and all other top officials. I am also sure that each desk in EUR will make a special plea for his particular client. I do not envy you this prospect.

However, I do want to call particular attention to Paragraph 4 of our telegram. Vanoni not only occupies an important place in the economic field but is also on the list of potential prime ministers for Italy. It is not improbable that if Scelba stubs his toe Vanoni might be called in on a care-taker basis to repeat the Pella experience of forming a “care-taker government”, which in Italy, as you know, can last for some time.

In view of Vanoni’s potential importance and the influence he exercises in present-day Italy, I would like to make a special plea that he be given a short and effective course in American institutions. This question has been discussed at length with the Ambassador, who approves the idea if it can be worked out. As you will note from the biographic sketch which I enclose,² Vanoni is known as an exponent of socialistic ideas both as an ultimate program and as a present means of political maneuvering. At the Ambassador’s suggestion, Tasca has written to Henry Luce, proposing a gentle massage. I enclose a copy of that letter. Tasca will write a follow-up letter to Mr. Luce after his talk with Vanoni today. I will send you a copy.³ You may also wish to glance at Ghiardi’s memo, enclosed.⁴

It seems to me that it would be well worthwhile to make it possible for Vanoni to see something of the United States while he is there and to discuss various economic problems with leaders of private industry who have no repeat no connection with Government-controlled enterprises. Perhaps the Department … can work out such a program. Vanoni will need an interpreter which I understand could be supplied by USIA under their leaders and specialists program. I do not think it advisable to give Vanoni such a leader and specialist grant at this time, although at a later date he might be considered.

I believe that if Vanoni could have his eyes opened about the achievements of private enterprise in the United States he might not pursue the line of nationalization and ultimate socialism in Italy. If that could be achieved, it would be for the common good.

I address this letter to you personally since I do not know how such matters will be handled.…

Best regards.

Sincerely yours,

Durby

[Enclosure]

The Director of the United States Operations Mission in Italy (Tasca) to Henry R. Luce

personal

Rome, August 24, 1954.

Dear Harry: As you may know, Italian Government Minister of the Budget Vanoni and his Undersecretary Ferrari-Aggradi, will be in the States to attend the International Fund and Bank Meetings which begin on September 24. They will be leaving on the Ile de France from Le Havre on September 10.

It has occurred to the Ambassador and to me that since the meetings they will attend involve some fifty or more different countries, a special effort will be required to see that these two men receive the proper “indoctrination”. As you are aware, one of the results of the Christian Democratic Congress in Naples was that Vanoni has become a considerably more important figure in Italian political life than ever before. In fact, in some quarters he is reported to be a possible candidate for the position of Prime Minister, with Fanfani remaining as Secretary General of the Party. Vanoni has been under Socialist influence for many years, and in my view has very confused ideas about the relationship of (a) government ownership, (b) efficient management of enterprise, and (c) the problem of control of business in the national interest.

It would be most useful if during his visit to the United States he could get firmly fixed in his mind the advantages which private enterprise and ownership offer in the States (within the framework of public control) in terms of economic expansion and progress. For example, it might be well if he could better understand the functioning of public utility commissions, the Inter-State Commerce Commission, and further, if he could get a first-hand view of the relationship between management and labor in the U.S.

I think it would be splendid if you could help in determining that his stay in the U.S. is fruitful in these areas. The Ambassador has suggested that you might wish to have C. D. Jackson spend some time with him. In any event, I leave all this to your good judgment. What I wish to stress is that this is an opportunity which could have some impact on key figures in Italian political life.

I am still looking forward to making a trip with you through the Reggio Emilia red areas when you return.

With best wishes,

Cordially,

Henry J. Tasca

1. Not printed. (398.13/8–3054) The Ninth Annual Meeting of the Boards of Governors of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Monetary Fund was to be held in Washington, Sept. 24–29.
2. Not printed.
3. Not found in Department of State files.
4. The biographic sketch had been prepared by Ghiardi, but no other memorandum by him was found as an enclosure to the source text.