740.00119 ACI/100: Telegram
The American Representative on the Advisory Council for Italy (Murphy) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 11—7:37 p.m.]
1. At the meeting of the Advisory Council yesterday afternoon, April 8, principal item on agenda was discussion of Italian political situation. General MacFarlane who had been invited to attend the meeting gave an interesting account of the organization of the Control Commission and military government. He then reviewed political developments in Italy from armistice up to present.
MacFarlane then described how with return of Togliatti (Ercoli) to Italy the Communist Party had withdrawn its opposition to the King and Badoglio. The latter as before were prepared to accept collaboration of any or all of opposition parties in the Government and the governments [parties?] themselves gave every indication of eventually following lead already taken by Communist Party. The Executive Junta had met with Sforza and Croce at Sorrento on April 6 and [Page 1093] decided to ask DeNicola to propose to the King on its behalf that he put his plan into effect immediately. It is important to note, however, that the Junta while accepting his plan (call it plan A) has done so on condition that it be put into effect immediately (call this plan B) rather than following the fall of Rome as envisaged by King. But DeMcola had refused to act as the spokesman of the Junta in whose deliberations he had never participated. The Junta accordingly had decided to meet again on Wednesday, April 12, to consider question of how to communicate with the King. Such was situation as of the moment.
2. The Chairman Guerino stressed on behalf of French Committee the gratification felt by French at this progress toward a democratic solution of Italian political impasse.
I stated that my Government took a similar view. There had been no concern [had been concern?] in the U.S. over slowness in implementation of the Moscow Conference decisions. The American people favor a rapid solution of the question along democratic lines.
3. Macmillan echoed these sentiments and proposed a recommendation to the Supreme Allied Commander which I seconded containing these views together with the advice that in event of formation of a new government the following two principles should be safeguarded:
- “(a) That the new government must formally declare its willingness to assume all the obligations towards the Allies entered into by old Government.
- (b) That any adjustment of the institutional question which may now be reached should be regarded as stable until such a time as the Italian people can freely express their views.”
The members of the Council all agreed to the recommendation with exception of Soviet member who stated that he would have to consult his Government. He undertook to do this immediately.
4. After considerable difficult[y] Bogomolov was induced to agree to a press communiqué simply stating the Council’s gratification at progress being made for an early solution of Italian political problem and formation of a broad based democratic government.
5. The several members of the Council each designated a staff member to participate in a committee of secretaries which is to investigate question of organization of a Council secretariat. It is not anticipated that they will recommend establishment of a permanent secretariat but rather will draw up a recommended procedure for handling of Council business and documents. I designated Goshie to act as secretary of the American delegation.
6. Noel Charles who reached Naples several days ago attended the meeting together with Macmillan.
Sent to Department. Repeated Algiers, London, Moscow.