Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, Foreign Minister of France Robert Schuman, Philip Jessup, Dean Rusk, and Mr. Couve de Murville

s/s 000745 DEPARTMENT OF STATE 211 116 Memorandum of Conversation DATE: April 8, 1949 and SUBJECT: Italian Colonies as PARTICIPANTS: Reduced Secretary Acheson Foreign Minister Schuman Mr. Couve de Murville Dr. Jessup Mr. Rusk COPIES TO: s/s, NEA, AF, UNA, UND, EUR, SWE 1--1493 Mr. Schuman remained behind this morning to discuss Italian colonies. He outlined the usual French position in support of Italian trusteeship for Libya, emphasizing its importance to the domestic political situation in Italy, the necessity for protecting Italian prestige, and the ability of the Italians to provide an effective administration for a trust territory. He also indicated the keen interest which France has in the problem because of its proximity to French North Africa. In addition, he expressed concern over Eritrea, particularly over the disposition of the "Italian cities" of Asmara and Massawa. He indicated that some justice must be done to Ethopia, but he wondered whether some form of collective trusteeship might be worked out for the bulk of the colonies. Mr. Rusk outlined briefly the U.S. position on these points indicating that we have been unable to support Italian trusteeship for Tripolitania. He pointed out that the political weakness in Italy mentioned by Mr. Schuman might be considered a good reason not to place Italy in a highly strategic position in North Africa. Fundamentally, the U.S. attitude on Tripolitania was influenced by the prospects of violent resistance on the part of the Arabs to the re-entry DECLASSIFIED of Italy E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) or (B) 7-23-75 Dept. of State letter, Aug.2,1973 sucuram By NLT- He NARS Date 4.21.76