740.00119 EW/11–1046: Telegram
The Chargé in Italy (Key) to the Acting Secretary of State19
urgent
[Received November 10—8:50 a.m.]
4193. For Council of Foreign Ministers, Amdel. Foreign Minister asked us to call on him later last evening. He said he had received reports still unconfirmed that CFM has decided to postpone decision on Trieste for time being. If true, he interpreted such decision to be invitation to Italian Government to undertake direct negotiations with Yugoslavia. He asked Embassy to inquire of Secretary if this interpretation were correct. Nenni feels there are certain positive elements in Tito’s proposal (see my telegram 4180 of November 7) which permit of general exchange of views looking toward solution of outstanding problems.
In these circumstances any agreement reached through direct Italian-Yugoslav negotiations must in Nenni’s view have guarantee of UN or Security Council and he would like Department’s assurance that this should be possible and forthcoming. In event of failure of efforts to achieve accord through direct negotiations, Italian Government would then take position that any decision reached by CFM or by twenty-one nations represented Paris Conference must be accepted as final. Such decision Nenni pointed out should take into consideration Tito’s implicit recognition Italian character of Trieste by his recent proposal and should assure, furthermore, that territory left to Italy by present draft treaty remain Italian.
Reply our question Nenni confirmed that any negotiations with Yugoslavia, would start from basis of Italy keeping territory already assigned her in present draft. Foreign Minister said he would like Secretary’s views on above and Embassy would be grateful urgent reply. He emphasized that Italian Government would especially depend on assistance moral support U.S. Government in undertaking as well as U. K. and France. Secretary British Embassy was waiting on Nenni when we left Foreign Office.20
[Page 1077]Inform Secdel. Repeated Caserta 1080 and Belgrade 167. Sent Dept 4193.
- This message was relayed to New York, where it was received on November 10, at 2:42 p.m.↩
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Telegram 4196, November 10, from Rome, reported that all Sunday morning newspapers had published the following Italian Foreign Ministry communiqué:
↩“The Minister of Foreign Affairs Honorable Pietro Nenni received last evening at Palazzo Chiggi diplomatic representatives of France, Great Britain, USA and USSR and communicated to them the Italian point of view on the new situation created by the postponement, still officially unconfirmed, however, of the discussions on the question of Venezia Giulia and Tito-Togliatti initiative. He particularly emphasized that in the eventuality of a direct approach to the Yugoslav Govt to examine the question in the framework of the broader relations of the two countries, the attitude of the Italian Govt which has already been briefly presented in a communication direct to the Big Four on November 4, would remain in any event unaltered as well as the accomplishments thus far achieved by the Council of Foreign Ministers and the conference of 21 nations.” (740.00119 EW/11–1046)