Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, Ambassador of Italy Alberto Tarchiani, and Homer Byington, Jr.

SECRET 7503 DEPARTMENT OF STATE Memorandum of Conversation coof 418 DATE: May 18, 1951 SUBJECT: The Italian Defense Effort THENIN 8. NATIONAL 135 ARCHIVE& AND RECORDS PARTICIPANTS: The Italian Ambassador The Secretary of State Mr. Byington, WE COPIES TO: s/s S/ISA EUR WE RA Amembassy, Rome u. s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 16-61120-1 Ambassador Tarchiani said that he was gratified to inform me that the Italian Government was going steadily ahead in its defense effort within the NATO. He said that despite the political difficulties involved, including the death of the President of the Senate, that body had now voted the 250 billion lire immediate additional contri- bution towards Italy's rearmament. The government had been able to get this measure through both houses with an overwhelming vote in favor despite the pre-electoral atmostphere now existent. He added that he thought this firm action by the government would in actual fact help rather than hurt them in the elections. I said that I was very glad to have from the Ambassador this confirmation of the good news and appreciated particularly his remarks concerning the Italian government's determination to go ahead with its defense measures. I said that I welcomed this act by the Italian government as an expression of Italy's cooperation with the other nations of the North Atlantic Community in their common program for deterring aggression. I referred to the notable recovery made by free democratic Italy since the war and said that Italy today occupies a place of distinction and full equality among the free nations working to establish an enduring peace. Although denied admission into the United Nations by repeated Soviet vetoes, Italy DECLASSIFIED E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 3(D) or (E) 5.17.24 Dept. of State letter, Aug. 7 1973 By NLT HC NARS Date 6-25-76 SECHE