740.0011 European War 1939/30658: Telegram
The Minister in Sweden (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
2516. Acting Chief Political Division Foreign Office states that reports from Rome have convinced Foreign Office that Badoglio tried to make an arrangement with Germany for removal of German troops from Italian soil. If successful, he had intended to capitulate, but as he was unable to persuade Germans to agree to this his next step is indefinite.
Same officer states as his personal belief that holding tactics still in practice on eastern front indicate continuation of modified “Hitler strategy” hence he believes Hitler still controls military forces and that this will shorten war by causing a quicker depletion of German military power than if generals had their way and shortened front immediately without sure loss of men and material as present strategy demands.