As announced in the communiqué issued on the conclusion of my talks with Count Sforza, His Majesty's Government, desiring to assist Italian and general European recovery and having taken into account the steps which have and are being taken in that direction, have decided that the naval vessels allocated to them under the Peace Treaty and the Four Power Naval Protocol of 10th February, 1947, with the exception of a few minor vessels, shall be left in the possession of the Italian Government to be dealt with in accordance with Article 2 (b) of the Naval Protocol which provides for certain categories of vessels to be scrapped or sunk.