711.66A/10–1948
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
I called on His Holiness at his country estate in the Alban Hills at 9:15, Tuesday morning.2 He received me with Mrs. Marshall present, and we had a conversation of about twenty or thirty minutes.
After the usual polite expressions he made some very direct statements about the situation. He expressed his gratification that I (he used the personal pronoun generally when really referring to our Government) had been unmistakably firm that this attitude was the only one understood by the Soviets (I believe he used the term Communists). He considered the situation serious, but he thought our determined stand was for the best. He described in some detail the activities of the Communists in Italy, their methods of infiltration, their discipline (he emphasized this) in carrying out the instructions from Moscow, and their persistent intensity of purpose.
His Holiness spoke in very complimentary terms of the European Recovery Program, American assistance generally to Italy, of my part [Page 888] in it. He was most frank throughout with no evidences of diplomatic circumlocution.
I resuméd the situation as I saw it and explained very frankly what I thought was the procedure we should follow. I described the status of the airlift, as to its quantity, delays and durability through the winter.
I then referred directly to the atomic bomb, the fact that I thought the fear of it made somewhat improbable Soviet resort to military action.
I explained the facts of the turmoil in the United States about the President’s suggested approach to Stalin, emphasizing and elaborating on Mr. Truman’s deep concern and terrible predicament in being the sole individual responsible for the use of the bomb. I did this in the light of the impression I had already gained from the Pope regarding his strong approval of our determined position. I thought it was advisable to get these matters clear in his mind. He seemed to indicate a general approval of all that I said without making specific comments. I did not ask for any and maybe did not give him a good opportunity to make any at the proper moment in the discussion. His sincerity of view, clearly expressed, was reassuring.
- No place
is indicated in the memorandum which was typed on stationery
with the letterhead “United States Mission to the United
Nations” which at that time was meeting in Paris.
After saying goodbye to Count Sforza, Secretary Marshall left Rome by plane at 3:30 p. m. that same day, headed for Paris (Rome Despatch No. 1508, October 21, 1948, 111.11 Marshall, George C./10–2148). It seems probable that Marshall dictated the memorandum that same day at Paris. See footnote 1, p. 883.
↩ - October 19.↩