Telegram from James C. Dunn to Secrertary of State George C. Marshall

INCOMING TELEGRAM DEPARTMENT OF STATE-DIVISION OF COMMUNICATIONS AND RECORDS TELEGRAPH BRANCH M TOP A 658 Action! EUR Info: Control 7905 SS C Rec'd October 24, 1948 DCR 7:26 a.m. LOG FROM: Rome TO: Secretary of State ARCHIVES RECORDS NATIONAL AND : SERVICE NO: 4081, October 22, 6 p.m. Military Attache has cabled Department of Army regarding approach by Italian Army Chief of Staff Marras suggesting exploratory US-Italian staff conversations on Italy's defense position and needs. I conour generally with analysis and recommendations in his MAR 453, September 24, and have following e omments: Government here is making progress in weaning public opinion away from illusion of neutrality to necessity of western alignment, (?) has even been made with idea of bringing up to full efficiency their armed forces in order be better able protect Italy's internal security and primary defense. However, there exists fear that neither Western Union nor ourselves really attach importance to defense of Italy and that at first sign of trouble Italy will be abandoned. This fear will grow as increasing publicity is given to reports of our intention to contribute to rearming of countries al- ready in Brussels pact, to the exclusion of Italy. Government leaders have impression that they are not wanted in Western Union, that France and UK consider them more liability than a help, and that they had better, therefore, rely on bilateral arrangements with US from whom all real help for Europe must in any case come. Added to this may be a certain reluctance on Italian side give up bargaining power for purposes of treaty revision and military aid which they may feel they have in any move to get them into Western Union. Italians may also feel that they can more easily get what they need directly from US than through intermediary of Western Union. We thus have a delicate threefold problem: DECLASSIFIED One. To give E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) or (E) OSD letter, 25.55 By NLT- He NARS Date 9-13-76 GECRET INFORMATION COPY