TO JAMES F. BYRNES February 18, 1947

47.02.18B (324w)

[Washington, DC]

Dear Byrnes: The Italian and Balkan Treaties will soon be taken up by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. I am enclosing a copy of the Department’s draft report to the President, which has the approval of Senator Vandenberg and which will shortly be forwarded if you agree.1 I would appreciate a telephone call on this point.

The Committee has asked me to appear before it, and I have discussed the matter with Vandenberg. We are all agreed that you are the person most capable of presenting the issues on these treaties. I therefore ask for your assistance, and will put at your disposal the entire Department, if you will accept. Vandenberg is writing you separately with a formal invitation. I do not yet know when the hearings will commence.

It is the desire of the Committee that I be the first witness.2 If you approve, I would merely state that the Committee and I have asked you to carry the main burden of explanation regarding these treaties, for evident reasons; that immediate approval by the Senate is of the utmost importance, and that your views have my wholehearted support.

I believe that in no other way can this problem be handled to the best interests of the country, and I hope that you can see your way clear to carry this ball through to the final score. I regret exceedingly imposing this task on you, but there appears to be no other logical way out. Faithfully yours,

NA/RG 59 (General Records, Memoranda to the President 1947–48)

1. Byrnes said he would participate. (Byrnes to Marshall, February 21, 1947, NA/RG 59 [Central Decimal File, 740.0011EW (Peace)/2-2147].)

2. The hearings began on March 4 with a brief statement by Marshall and continued on April 30 and May 1, 2, and 6. He appeared again on the final day. See the editorial note on pp. 000-00.