Carlo Sforza

He was born at Montignoso di Lunigiana on 24 January 1872, and died on 4 September 1952.
He graduated in Law and was a member of the diplomatic service.
He entered the foreign service in 1896 and held a long series of posts abroad until 1921, when Giolitti appointed him to serve as Foreign Minister.
In 1922 he was the Italian Ambassador to Paris which he gave up with the rise of Fascism. In 1927 he was forced to emigrate.
He returned to Italy after 25 July 1943, and served as Minister without Portfolio in the 2nd Badoglio Government and the 1st Bonomi Government.
Immediately after the war he became President of the National Consultation, a member of the Constituent Assembly, and in 1948 he was elected Senator.
As Minister of Foreign Affairs between 1947 and 1950 in the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th De Gasperi Governments, he signed the Peace Treaty with the Allies and contributed towards Italy's accession to the Marshall Plan, the Council and Europe and the Atlantic Alliance.
He was a convinced advocate and one of the designers of Italy's pro-European policy and with De Gasperi he led Italy into the Council of Europe; on 18 April 1951 he signed the Treaty instituting the European Coal and Steel Community, making Italy one of the founder members of the ECSC.
In July 1951 he was appointed Minister without Portfolio, with responsibility for European Affairs in the 7th De Gasperi Government.