Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, The British Commonwealth and Europe, Volume III

865.01/2385a: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Chargé at Algiers (Chapin)

Washington, April 29, 1944—midnight.

1308. For Murphy. Marshal Badoglio in a personal letter to the President refers to the formation of the new Italian Government and requests (translation) “a full reexamination of the very harsh terms made to us 6 months ago” with a view to Italy’s transition from cobel-ligerency to alliance. Badoglio makes a plea for the President’s good offices towards this end.

About the time of the receipt of Badoglio’s note a representative of the British Embassy called and presented an extract from a Foreign Office telegram dated April 20.³³ This message referred to the formation of the new Italian Government, and stated that this might lead to revival of proposals that Italy be accorded Allied status. The British interpret the following moves as leading towards this end: Italy’s request to be represented on the Advisory Council, desire to adhere to the Atlantic Charter,³⁴ and request to participate in the International Labor Office. The extract continues that while Italy’s position as a cobelligerent merits better treatment than as merely a defeated enemy, she must not forget her position as a defeated enemy nor claim the privileges of an ally; the greater the concessions now made, the more difficult will it be to impose such sanctions as the Allies may deem desirable when all Italy shall be freed, and at the end of the war.

The representative of the British Embassy stated that they planned to seek Soviet accord in taking a positive stand that Allied status for Italy cannot be considered at this time. He said that before drafting this note it seemed desirable that our and the British view be coordinated in order that they might so indicate in the communication to the Soviets.

For your information should the matter be raised in the Advisory Council, the Department has no intention of agreeing to Allied status for Italy at this time, and has so informed the British. You should maintain this view in any conversations you may have on the subject with your British and Russian colleagues.

Hull

33. Not printed.
34. Presumably adherence to the United Nations Declaration of January 1, 1942, which incorporated the principles of the Atlantic Charter. For text of the United Nations Declaration, See Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. i, p. 25.