Evening star., 1947-12-14
Truman Warns That U.S.. Will Act
If |talys Freedom Is Threatened:
Last American Troops Sail Today
InterestinNution's
PeuceContinues,
President Asserts
EEDS BEATEN IN MOVE to Probe
Rome Police Work in Strike. AS.

TsEDS BEATEN IN MOVE to Probe
Rome Police Work in Strike. AS.
BY the Associated Press
On the eve of withdrawal of
the last American soldiers from
Italy, President Truman warned
last night that if that nations
freedom is threatened directly
or indirectly" the United States
will consider appropriate"
measures.
The Presidents formal 100-word
statement emphasized that while
the troops are being withdrawn in
accordance with treaty obligations,
the United States has by no means
lost its interest "in the preserva-
ton of the peace and independence
of Italy"
Mr.. Truman made no mention of
recent disorders in Italy occaSioned
by Communicated strikes, but ap-
psrently he was mindful of the
trouble that has been stirred there
in recent weeks.
His statement coincided with re-
ports which lacked official confrma-
tion-that this Government is
actively considering supplying mod
ern arms to the limited forces per-
mitted to Italy by the new peace
treaty.
Text of Statement.
The Presidents statement, pub
lished as a final contingent of
1000 American troops in Italy pre-
pared to board homeward bound
transport at Leghorn, said:
Although the United States Is
withdrawing its troops from Italy
in fulfillment of its obligations
under the treaty of peace, this
country continues its interest in the
preservation of the peace and in
dependence of Italy.
IF in the course of events 1t
becomes apparent that the freedom
and independence of Italy on which
the peace settlements is based are
being threatened, directly or in
directly, the United States as a
signatory of the peace treaty and
as a member of the United Nations,
will be obliged to- consider what
measures would be appropriate for
the maintenance of peace and Sc
curity."
The treaty, which went into ef-
feet September IS following its
ratification by the United States,
Russia, Britain and France, calls
for withdrawal of all Allied occupa-
tion forces within 80 days. This
period expires at midnight tonight.
5000 U. S. Troops Stay.
Five thousand American troops
remain, along with British and
Yugoslav forces of the same size, to
safeguard the free territory of
Trieste on the Italian-Yugoslav
border.
Italy's postwar armed forces are
limited to $4,000 men in the regu-
lar army and $1,000 in the cara
binieri, auxiliary force of gendarmes.
Across the border in Communist
dominated Yugoslavia is an army
estimated at 100000 under Moscow
trained Marshall Tito, Yugoslav die
tator.
Mr.. Truman's warning statement
and the reports of possible American
arms for Italy fitted against that
background.
One report circulated last week
that the United States is arranging
to ship $4,000 heavy and light ma
chine guns, 10000 rifles and am
munition to Italy. 1t produced a
terse "no-comment" from the State
and Army Departments.
Italian Ambassador Alberto Tar
chiani told a reporter he had no in
formation on the suit. Get.
Sail From Leghorn Today.
Along with the withdrawal of
American troops, Mr.. Truman's S
statement conceded also with the
windup of a two-day general strike
in Rome carried out under Com
munist sponsorship. 1t came, too,
at a time when the administration
is making final preparations to sub
NIT to Congress detailed estimates
for the four-year Marshall plan for
European recovery. Italy's postwar
lirl, &c n
inently in these estimates.
The last American occupation
troops to quit Italy are a force of
headquarters and supply troops
under Maj. Gen. Lawrence c..
Jaynes, commanding general Of
United States forces in the Mediter-
ranean theater They are due to
sail before midnight tonight from
the port of Leghorn aboard the
Army transport Admiral Sims.
Generally regarded as a stabilizing
influence, the contingent originally
wes scheduled to leave December 3
wnen Premier Alcide de Gasperi's
non Communist government was
facing the general strike threat and
trying to cope with Communist dis
orders in Milan and other cities.
The departure was postponed.
Remnant Of $4,000.
The American troops leaving are
the remnants of an occupation force
which totaled about $4,000 earlier
this year and of the wartime Amer
lean 5th Army of several hundred
thousand men.
Peace treaties with four other Axis
satellite nations went into effect at
the same time as the Italian pact
These require the withdrawal of
Russian occupation troops from
Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria
Russia, however, may continue. to
maintain forces of unspecif1ed size
in these countries to safeguard lines
of communications as long as the
failure of the major powers to agree
on an Austrian treaty keeps Red
Army occupation troops in Austria
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