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

740.0011 European War 1939/30659: Telegram

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

Bern, August 12, 1943.

4921. Have been unable obtain authentic account Guariglia—Ribbentrop meeting.¹ Rumor current however Ribbentrop “promised” 15 divisions (some of which are already crossing frontier into Italy) and 3000 airplanes. Ribbentrop stated to have told Guariglia Italy must decide whether these German armed forces would come as allies or as foes.

2. It is pointed out that if Germany does in fact intend send troops Italy in considerable numbers, their adequate protection might easily require German control of political and police powers of country.

3. Another rumor is that leaders of opposition parties in Italy visited various localities in north of Italy during past week to assess political temper of masses and returned here disillusioned. It appears that working classes as a whole were apathetic showing little interest in political situation and asking only for sufficient food and to be left alone. Even among Communists it is said revolutionary fervor was lacking. If this were true impassivity thus revealed would suggest German occupation would meet with little active opposition from masses.

4. It remains to be appraised how much of foregoing speculative material should be attributed to present German war of nerves on Italy. German strategic plans in Italy have not, I understand, been made clear even to the Italians but it seems doubtful that Germany is in position at present juncture to send armed forces to Italy in quantity allegedly stated by Ribbentrop.

Harrison

1. Concerning the Tarvis conference of August 6, 1943, in which the German and Italian Chiefs of Staff also took part, see Garland and Smyth, pp. 369–371 and the sources cited there; Helmuth Greiner and Percy Ernst Schramm, eds., Kriegstagebuch des Oberlcommandos der Wehrmacht (Wehrmaclitführungsstab), 1940–1945 (Frankfurt am Main: Bernard und Graefe Verlag für Wehrwesen, 1961–1965), vol. iii/2, pp. 906–909; Records of the Italian Armed Forces available on microfilm in the National Archives, item it 3029, roll 251, frames 777 ff.