740.00119 European War 1939/9–2443: Telegram
The Commander in Chief of Allied Forces (Eisenhower) to the War Department 97
NAF 379. Delivered to me today and transmitted by couriers are letters from the King of Italy addressed to the King of England and the President of the United States. As requested by the Italian Government the text of these letters is transmitted herewith. Letter to the King begins:
“Your Majesty. I think it advisable to lay before Your Majesty in a confidential and personal way some considerations inspired by the common interest of our countries.
In my opinion it is necessary and urgent that all, or the greatest possible part of Italian territory be freed from the Germans in order to avoid having the large industries of Northern Italy work fully for the enemy, furnishing it with tanks, airplanes and trucks; in a few months, with the forced labor of our ship yards in the north, [Page 375] several war ships, including two of our battleships, will again be able to sail in the Mediterranean under the German flag.
In the meanwhile, it is of essential political importance for you and for us to reach Rome as soon as possible.
The Italian people, on the 25th of July, decidedly broke away from the past regime, but I think that a new Fascist government, even though not legally set up, but in possession of the capital, could always, with the help of formations of the militia and the self-interested contribution of a lawless minority place serious obstacles in the way of our military operations and stir up civil war.
It is to our common interest that this should not happen, and the sooner my Government and I are able to return to Rome and the sooner our troops may be able to push towards Northern Italy, all the more quickly may this be avoided.
At present my Government exercises civil power over four provinces of the Puglie and over Sardinia; it would be very considerably strengthened, both morally and politically, with regards to the illegal government of the north, if it was allowed to extend its jurisdiction over the remainder of the occupied territory, Sicily included.
The exercise of civil power over an important part of the national territory would enable us, by being able to count on a greater choice of political leaders, to carry out the political reconstruction of the country, which would be completed with the return to the parliamentary regime which I have always wished for.
Finally, I submit to the personal attention of Your Majesty the very important question of the exchange; a more favorable treatment than that adopted in Sicily would have incalculable moral and political repercussions for the common cause.
With the expression of my best wishes for our two countries, I beg to sign myself the good brother of Your Majesty.”
Letter to the President of the United States is identical except for substitution of Mr. President for Your Majesty and except for last paragraph. Last paragraph of letter to the President begins: “With the expression of my best wishes for our countries. I beg of you, Mr. President, to believe in my great esteem. [”]
- For the Combined Chiefs of Staff; a copy was also sent to the British Chiefs of Staff.↩