865.01/657: Telegram
The Consul General at Algiers (Wiley) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:24 p.m.]
1891. (From Murphy.) Our Military Mission in Brindisi telegraphs as follows November 1.
Badoglio intends to see the King today and inform him that he finds it impossible under present circumstances to form a representative anti-Fascist government representing existing political parties. He therefore tenders his resignation. Badoglio will recommend that [Page 417] the King summon Sforza who, in Badoglio’s opinion, is the only person presently available to whom all the parties will rally.
Our Mission has asked Badoglio orally to explain to the King that the Allies don’t wish to interfere with constitutional practice provided: (1) that Badoglio remain in office as effective head of the government until the new government is ready to take over and (2) that there be close accord with the Allies in all steps taken to insure the maintenance of order and that the provisions of armistice are respected.
In a subsequent telegram dated November 2 early our Mission reported that late November 1 the King received Reber and MacFarlane and Caccia88 and informed them that Badoglio had reported his inability to form a broad based government because the Naples group would not collaborate “with the Marshal”. The King said therefore that he wishes to go to Naples on November 3 for the purpose of discussing the situation with Sforza, Croce, Rodino and others. The King apparently is convinced that the Naples group would not obey a summons to come to Brindisi but hopes that they will not refuse to see him in Naples.
This is further evidence that the King does not understand his situation or refuses to admit that he himself is the obstacle to the formation of a broad based government. We have informed our Mission that there is no objection to the King’s proceeding to Naples, but that it would be better if MacFarlane or other members of the Mission did not accompany him as proposed by MacFarlane. General Alexander has no objection from his point of view to proposed visit to Naples.
Sent Department, repeated Madrid, London, Moscow. [Murphy.]
- Harold Caccia, serving with the British Resident Minister, North Africa. On November 10, 1943, he was announced as British Vice President of the Allied Control Commission for Italy.↩