740.00119 EW/8–1743: Telegram
The British Foreign Office to the British Embassy in the United States 1
Following telegram has been sent to Quebec:—
Manzini, Secretary of the Italian Legation in Lisbon, has passed the following information to us through most secret channels at the request [Page 1057] of d’Ajeta, new Counsellor with whom he is collaborating on peace moves.
2. Statements made by d’Ajeta to Sir R. Campbell on August 3rd2 were modified by last-minute instructions from Guariglia and an essential part was completely omitted. For unknown personal reasons Guariglia is evidently favouring German game and is impeding the intentions of the Supreme Command and the King to surrender immediately. The Supreme Command desires to establish forthwith technical details of surrender and Allied occupation, without the knowledge of the Germans, in order to frustrate their reprisals. [Garble] it has full assent of the King, General Staff, the Pope and the Government except Guariglia. To achieve this end Supreme Command decided to send their fully authorized delegate, General Castellano, to Lisbon to meet a specially authorized British delegate. Castellano is pro-British and is described as the brains of the Italian General Staff and as the man who prepared the way whereby Badoglio took over the Government.