740.00119 ACI/14: Telegram
The American Representative to the French Committee of National Liberation at Algiers (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 1—4:30 a.m.]
72. From Murphy. Andrei Vyshinsky with a party of some 31 persons arrived in Algiers from Moscow on November 24 during the absence of Macmillan and myself in Cairo. On our return to Algiers an informal preliminary meeting of the Advisory Council for Italy was held at my home on November 29 and the first formal meeting occurred today at AFHQ. As the first meeting was held on French territory it was agreed that Mr. Massigli would preside and that thereafter the chairmanship would rotate. It was also agreed that each member would name a substitute, and I proposed that after Reinhardt12 arrives he would act in this capacity. The Secretariat would consist of one person of each nationality to be selected by the respective members. It was also agreed that the business of the meetings would be conducted in the English language. Military representatives of AFHQ attended and gave the members an exposé of the current situation in Italy with particular reference to the activities of the Allied Military Government and current civilian problems.
Vyshinsky has expressed eagerness to visit Italy immediately and a party has been organized to proceed to Brindisi December 2. Mr. Vyshinsky and his colleagues will be given an opportunity to examine on the spot the different aspects of the Italian situation with possible visits to the Fifteenth Army group, the Fifth Army, the Eighth Army as well as to the Allied Control Commission in order to give the Soviet delegates an air picture of actual conditions of military operations as well as civilian conditions. Macmillan, Massigli and I will accompany them but Macmillan and I propose to proceed to Cairo on December 4 spending 2 or 3 days there, later rejoining Vyshinsky after the latter’s visit to Italy has been completed. A further meeting of the Advisory Council will be held in Algiers to afford the Soviet representative an opportunity to discuss whatever Italian problems he may desire.
When the Soviet representatives arrived in Algiers they believed that article 37 of the Long Term Armistice Convention with Italy13 authorized the automatic appointment of Soviet representatives to the Allied Control Commission. They have been informed by the Chief of Staff that appointments must be approved by the Combined [Page 434] Chiefs of Staff and that the provision of article 37 is of a general nature to the effect that the United Nations shall be represented on the Allied Control Commission. An appropriate message is being sent to the Combined Chiefs of Staff. It was obvious also from our preliminary discussions with Vyshinsky that he understood that the Advisory Council had the task of deciding the functions of the Allied Control Commission. This has also been clarified in accordance with the terms of reference for the Council as specified by the Tripartite Conference at Moscow.
Vyshinsky has repeatedly emphasized that the Soviet interest in the Italian situation relates primarily to the military phase and that the Soviet Union desires to develop in concert with USA every possibility to shorten the war.
(?) Molotov will act as Vyshinsky’s principal assistant on the Advisory Council and his substitute during Vyshinsky absence.
A press communiqué is being issued limited to a statement of the organization of the Committee.
Sent to Department. Repeated Cairo, Moscow and London. [Murphy.]