740.00119 EW 1939/10–645
The Italian Ambassador (Tarchiani) to the Secretary of State
The Italian Ambassador presents his compliments to the Honorable the Secretary of State and has the honor to inform him that he has been requested to bring to the attention of the Government of the United States the following statement made by the Foreign Minister, Signor De Gasperi, in the recent speech to the Italian Consultative Assembly:
“Italy acknowledges that an equitable and fruitful peace can be founded only upon the principles and purposes for which the United Nations have fought the war and for which new democratic Italy has aligned herself with them: in particular that peace must be founded on the fulfillment of international law; on the faith in human dignity; on the respect of the human being and the rights of man; on the aspiration that in every country be ensured the essential human liberties: freedom of speech, freedom of religion; freedom from want that will guarantee a healthy and peaceful life in every country, in every part of the world; and, finally, freedom from fear of any act of aggression of one country against another.”
The Italian Ambassador has been directed to inform the Honorable the Secretary of State that the Italian Government is particularly desirous that a formula identical or analogous to the one above mentioned be included in the preamble of the Peace Treaty.
[Page 1062]Such formula, while in accordance with the spirit which has inspired and inspires the United States of America in war as in peace, corresponds to the aims and ideals of the Italian Government.