Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

DEPARTMENT OF STATE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY WASHINGTON February 20, 1948 SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS GERMANY Ambassador Caffery is authorized to inform French Prime Minister Schuman and Foreign Minister Bidault of our feeling that French preoccupation with Germany as the major threat to French security is outmoded and unrealistic; that the threat to France in the immediate future would come from another quarter which might seek to utilize a substantial section of the German economy, or control of all Germany, to this end; and that in our opinion French security can best be served by the integration of western Europe, including the economy of western Germany. NORWAY The Norwegian Defense Minister has raised with our service attaches in Oslo numerous questions concerning the possi- bility and probable character of US assistance to Norway in the event of war, implying that he hoped to secure a US commitment to aid Norway. Our Embassy feels that this indicates a certain westward trend in Norwegian thinking, plus an awareness that Norway will have to rely on US military aid, though the Defense Minister is undoubtedly also influenced by the weak state of Norway's defenses and the political criticism which has been leveled against him personally. ITALY Top Italian officials have reiterated their hope that we will make some public statement to counteract the recent Soviet declaration on the subject of the Italian colonies in connection with the current Italian electoral campaign and that we will also give consideration to announcing that unused Italian quotas from the war years will now be made available for immigrant visas. SPAIN Ambassador Dunn has also reported that certain officials in the Italian Foreign Office would like to see an improvement in Italian-Spanish relations, possibly along the lines of a customs union, and hope to find a formula to this end which would not be embarrass- ing to the US, UK or France. DECLASSIFIED E.O. 12065, Sec. 3-402 State Dept. Guideline, June 12, 1979 By NLT HC NARS, Date 11-13-fo