Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, Ambassador Italy Alberto Tarchiani, Foreign Minister of Italy Count Carlo Sforza, Mr. Satterthwaite, Mr. Unger, and Theodore Achilles

DEPARTMENT OF STATE 247 DO4462 Memorandum of Conversation conf S/s DATE: 255 September 14, 1949 SUBJECT: Conversation with Count Sforza on the Italian Colonies PARTICIPANTS: Count Sforza Ambassador Tarchiani Mr. Acheson Mr. Achilles ARCHIVES AND in "NATIONAL RECORDS COPIES TO: Mr. Unger : SERVICE" Mr. Satterthwaite XXXXXX 1-1492 Sforza said that some of his friends in the United Nations were asking what the status of the Italian Colon- ial problem was. He said the differences between the British and Italians on Tripolitania were lessening. Bevin had told Sforza that he did not want to stay in Tripolitania indefinitely. I said I thought the problem was working itself out. Sforza said the recent compro- mise with Bevin adopted for the last GA session was not satisfactory to either: Although it resulted in the British and Italians subsequently coming out for inde- pendence in Tripolitania and Cyrenaica. Sforza said the Italians had a good record in Eritrea and that if the majority there are for independence, and he thinks this is true, independence would be possible and would be consistent with the proposal for Libya. Achilles said our reports from Eritres are conflicting as to the strength of the sentiment for independence. Sforza said he thought Ethiopia should not get what doesn't and has never belonged to her. We summy DECLASSIFIED E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) 23.75 or (E) Dept. of State letter, By NLT- HC NARS Date 4.22.76