865.48/7–147: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Dunn) to the Secretary of State
urgent
1786. I expect to sign tomorrow U.S. foreign relief agreement with Italy and I shall notify Department precise time as soon as arrangements are made. I propose to issue following statement at time of signature.
An agreement was signed today at Palazzo Chigi to provide food relief to Italy under recently enacted US foreign relief program. Prime Minister Alcide de Gasperi and Foreign Minister Count Carlo Sforza signed for Italy. Ambassador James Clement Dunn signed for US.
US foreign relief program is designed to alleviate misery of peoples in countries devastated by war. Congress of US has voted 350 million dollars to authorize relief supplies, food and medicines to following countries: Italy, Trieste area, Greece, Austria, Hungary, Poland, and China. This program will remain in operation through 30 June 1948.
Terms of agreement which two governments have signed today are based on an act of Congress of US and are virtually same as those currently being negotiated with other eligible countries.
Amount of funds as well as types and tonnages of supplies to be authorized for Italy and other nations will be determined periodically in joint consultation as the requirements manifest themselves.
In order to insure maximum expenditure for actual relief supplies and to supplement program with donations by American voluntary [Page 931] relief agencies total of five million dollars is set aside in law for expense of ocean transportation and related costs incidental to work of private non-profit American relief agencies. Assistance of these private agencies is expected to augment aid received by Italy considerably.
US relief program will carry on humanitarian work of UNRRA through which US contributed supplies valued at four million dollars to Italy,1 three quarters of entire UNRRA program, and will give aid to Italian economy while long term measures for rehabilitation of Italy have time to become effective.
This agreement illustrates once again strong sentiments of mutual friendship and sympathy that animate peoples of two countries. Purpose of US foreign relief program is relief on a broad popular scale. It is another indication of desire of American people to assist Italy toward point where her economy can carry on alone with full and unimpeded strength.2
- The correct figure of $400 million was supplied on the margin of the working copy in the Department of State.↩
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In telegram 1822, July 4, from Rome, not printed, Dunn reported that the signing took place that day at 11:15 local time with a good press turn-out assuring a good send-off for the strictly U.S. program (865.48/7–447).
Copies of the agreement were transmitted to the Department in despatch 1156, July 4, from Rome, not printed (865.48/7–447); for text of the agreement and exchange of notes, see Department of State Treaties and Other International Acts Series (TIAS) No. 1653, or 61 Stat. (pt. 3) 3135.
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