Italy And Atlantic Pact

Northern Advocate, 21 July 1949, Page 5

Italy And Atlantic Pact

WASHINGTON. Wed. (10 a.m.)—The United Stales today rejected Soviet protests against Italian participation in the North Atlantic Pact.

The Secretary of State (Mr Dean Acheson) said Russian accusations that Italian ratification of the pact constituted violation of tho terms of the Italian peace treaty were “utterly without foundation.” Mr Acheson said the Russian argument, in the case of Italy, like other Soviet objections to the treaty, assumed that the treaty was directed against Russia. That, however, was not the case. The American Government had said many times that the pact was purely defensive. Mr Acheson recalled that when State Department officials testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the pact they specifically noted that the militai'y clauses of the Italian peace treaty—drastically limiting Italy’s military strength—would not be upset.

The Italian Foreign Minister (Count Sforza) told the chamber tonight that he was astounded at the Russian Note accusing Italy of violating the peace treaty by joining the Atlantic Pact.

Count Sforza said he could not understand why the Note was directed at Italy unless it was designed to interfere with the free discussion nowgoing on in the chamber. The chamber is due to vote on the ratification of the pact late tonight.