865.001/14: Telegram

The Consul General at Naples (Brandt) to the Secretary of State

130. From Kirk. In amplification of my 127, June 5,57 MacFarlane reports that yesterday Italian Cabinet considered King’s request transmitted by Badoglio, that he be allowed to go to Rome or Rome Province and there sign act of transfer of powers to Crown Prince, and that [Page 1123] Cabinet decided act must be performed soon as Allied troops reach Rome and that if for operational and transportation reasons King could not be taken to Rome at once, the act would have to be signed immediately in Ravello.

Yesterday MacFarlane and Badoglio went to Ravello where they informed King it was impossible to transport him to Rome within next few days and that transfer of powers would have to be signed at once. King accepted this as inevitable but requested and received an official letter to this effect from Badoglio.

King then signed act of transfer of powers (see my 128, June 558). After signing act of transfer, King assured MacFarlane he would disappear completely from the political scene.

Sent to Department; repeated to Algiers. [Kirk.]

Brandt
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