740.00119 European War 1939/9–1943: Telegram
The Commander in Chief of Allied Forces (Eisenhower) to the War Department 90
AFHQ in North Africa,
September 20,
1943.
NAF 410. This is in continuation of my NAF 409.91 My views are summarized as follows. In our future relations with Italy there are only two courses:
- 1.
- To accept and strengthen the legal Government of Italy under the King and Badoglio; to regard this Government and the Italian people as co-belligerents but with their military activity subject to my direction under terms of armistice, and I, of course, making such military, political and administrative conditons as I may find necessary from time to time. Included in these would be the imposition by directive of such clauses of the long terms as may be necessary from the supply, shipping, economic and other points of view under the authority of article 12 of the short terms.
- 2.
- To sweep this Government aside, set up an Allied military government of occupied Italy, and accept the very heavy commitments involved.
Of these two courses, on military grounds, I strongly recommend the first. Since as co-belligerent it would necessarily declare war on Germany and on the Fascist Republican Government of Italy, for all elements desiring to fight against Fascism in Italy it will be the natural rallying point.