Office of the Historian

740.0011 Moscow/10–2643: Telegram

President Roosevelt to the Secretary of State

Washington, 26 October 1943—6:05 p.m.

The seven points of policy outlined in the Soviet proposal, your Delam 1389 and 14,90 are in conformity with this Government’s policy towards Italy. It would appear advisable, however, that the acceptance thereof be conditional on such preamble as indicated by you in your 1715, October 24, 1 p.m.

It may be well to make two observations for your guidance. First, that the time when these seven points of policy can be made effective must be governed by military factors in Italy, and, secondly, in the carrying out of point 6, no steps should be adopted, even in this early stage, which would not meet with the prior approval of the supreme allied commander-in-chief or would run contrary to our announced policy of permitting the people (in this case, of Italy) ultimately to choose their own form of democratic government.

Roosevelt
  1. Not printed; it contained a report of the meeting of October 22, 1943 (Fourth Plenary Meeting). For summary of this meeting, see p. 604.↩
  2. Delam 14 not printed; it contained a translation of the Soviet proposal in regard to Italy, printed as Conference Document No. 13, p. 714.↩