Office of the Historian

320. Memorandum of Conversation0

Washington, October 4, 1963, 6:10 p.m.

SUBJECT

  • Italian Political Situation

PARTICIPANTS

  • Italy
    • Emilio Colombo, Minister of Treasury
    • Sergio Fenoaltea, Ambassador, Italian Embassy
    • Gian Luigi Milesi Ferretti, Minister, Italian Embassy
  • United States
    • The President
    • Neil Seidenman—Interpreter
[Page 890]

The President said he did not know precisely what kind of effective action could be taken, but the greatest source of concern to him was the increased relative strength of the Communists, and divisions among the democratic parties opposing them. He expressed hope, however, that the next elections would give a stronger mandate to the democratic parties.

Minister Colombo admitted the dangerous aspect of the Communist Party’s present moderate image. He said that no one wants the next elections to be soon. Italy’s political course should be to unite a majority around the reaffirmation of ideological opposition to communism and allegiance to the cause of Western solidarity. He said there are two approaches to the opening to the left: One—easy but dangerous—would be to govern with the support of Socialist votes in Parliament, which could lead to precarious compromises, and growing uncertainty, possibly toward a popular front situation and a back-slide to neutralism, or at best to an inability to speak plainly in matters of foreign policy. The other approach—more difficult to achieve—would be to set up a working majority under a government with responsible Socialist participation, by drawing Nenni away from the Communist Party and any espousal of neutralism. Minister Colombo stressed the importance of the forthcoming Socialist Party congress in this regard, and he seemed optimistic. He said that Moro had reached agreement with Nenni after the last elections, but ultimately failed because of the dissidence of the Lombardi faction.

The President closed the meeting by thanking the Minister for his visit. He expressed the hope that the Minister would meet with success in his economic responsibilities, and that his Government would be able to organize matters in a way that would give Italy a long period of tranquility in which to settle its problems without having to bargain and reorganize politically at each important step.

The Minister thanked the President for what he termed a very useful encounter for him, and expressed confidence in the future of their working relationship.

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, Pol 1 Italy. Confidential. Drafted by Seidenman, cleared by Stott, and approved in the White House on October 14. The meeting was held at the White House.↩