Foreign Relations of the United States, Conferences at Washington and Quebec, 1943

740.00119 European War 1939/1567: Telegram

The Minister in Switzerland (Harrison) to the Secretary of State

confidential

Bern, August 8, 1943.

4815. My Greek colleague¹ tells me that the Papal Nuncio² called upon him and asked him to pass on to me and to my British colleague³ the following as coming from an Italian source here without revealing his name: the Badoglio Government is prepared to accept immediately armistice on “honorable terms” provided Italy is not occupied. This only way for B to get Germans out. If Germans refuse B will ask Allied assistance.

My Greek colleague suggests action of Nuncio may well have been inspired by the Vatican. Am inclined believe Nonce acted on his own initiative.

Harrison

1. Spyro Marchetti.
2. Filippo Bernardini.
3. Clifford John Norton.