865.01/675: Telegram
The Consul General at Algiers (Wiley) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 5—6:15 a.m.]
1918. For the President and the Acting Secretary from Murphy. Agwar telegram MAT 77 of November 3 to the Combined Chiefs of Staff in substance stated that King is in Naples today attempting to persuade the Naples group to join his government. Either he will succeed or he will be met by their refusal to participate in any government unless he abdicates and the Crown Prince renounces his right in favor of the Prince of Naples.
Should he succeed in forming a government no immediate problem for the Allies arises. On the other hand should he fail and accept the proposal for abdication there will also be no occasion for Allied intervention.
However if the King refuses to abdicate and appeals to Badoglio to continue notwithstanding the refusal of the Naples group to participate Badoglio undoubtedly will seek Allied advice. This for the reason that he will have failed to obtain the participation of liberal elements in line with stated Allied policy. Therefore unless instructions to the contrary are received it is proposed in the latter event to continue the present arrangements until we reach Rome. The alternative would be to stimulate the King’s abdication resulting in a coalition government and the establishment of Badoglio as regent for the Prince of Naples.
Incident to the foregoing Macmillan is telegraphing to the Prime Minister in amplification of the foregoing requesting the Prime Minister’s views.
The formula proposed by Sforza with which I believe Badoglio is in full accord seems to me a desirable solution which the U.S.A. if necessary might well support. The departure of the King should not adversely affect the military effort and the liberalization of the Italian Government should if anything aid it.
There are of course a number of practical considerations. Principal among these are the command of the Italian Armed Forces, the operation of the ports and communications, the eventual transfer of Italian territory now under AMG to the Italian administration, the conduct of the civilian Italian administration and the attitude of the personnel of the Italian diplomatic and consular personnel abroad.
Information regarding the signing of the long term armistice document has been closely held in Italy. If Sforza does form the new government it will be necessary to inform him of the details of the terms and to insist on his acceptance of the obligations of the armistice terms. [Murphy.]