DEPARTMENT OF STATE Memorandum of Conversation
Date: February 14, 1949
Subject Italian Colonies
Participants: The French Ambassador The Secretary of State T. C. Achilles, WE
Copies to: S/S NEA EUR SE
The Ambassador called at his request to discuss various matters.
He said that, as we knew, the French Government had originally preferred Italian trusteeship over all Italy's former colonies but had now modified its position in favor of British trusteeship over Cirenaica, Italian trusteeship over Somaliland, international trusteeship over Eritrea, with Ethiopia having access to the sea in the south, and Italian trusteeship over Tripoli. He said he understood that the British had now withdrawn their objection to Italian trusteeship over Tripoli.
I said that our position on the whole question of the former Italian colonies was currently under review.
WE:TCAchilles:ca