865.01/2511: Telegram
The Chargé at Algiers (Chapin) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:26 p.m.]
1932. From Murphy. General MacFarlane, Chief Commissioner, ACC, has sent a personal message this morning to General Wilson for the advice of Macmillan and myself stating he had seen Bonomi60 this morning who told him Bonomi hoped to complete his Cabinet by this evening. MacFarlane states that Bonomi asked him whether MacFarlane thought Sforza would be a good choice for Foreign Minister. MacFarlane replied that appointment would not meet much approval on part of Allied Governments. (MacFarlane stated in another message immediately following the one above referred to that he had done everything he could to keep Bonomi from appointing Sforza as Foreign Minister and had hopes that he had succeeded). MacFarlane suggested to Bonomi that unless he had some other candidate in view, there was much to be said for his reserving this appointment for himself.
As MacFarlane is speaking in behalf of the United States Government, I wonder whether Department will approve this action, We have known for some time that the British generally disapprove of Sforza particularly since he called on Churchill in London before arriving in Italy and disagreed with him on Badoglio and the King. Reber also has expressed considerable reserve and so far as I know Kirk is open-minded.
Ever since I have been connected with Italian affairs, I have found Sforza very friendly and cooperative. As the Department is well aware, during his many years of exile from Fascist Italy he has been a friend of the United States and other democracies. Since he entered [Page 1126] the Government he has kept us informed and the information he has furnished with regard to the role of the Communists in the Government and of Communist Party in Italy has been invaluable. Whatever may be his defects and British feeling that Sforza will be difficult to deal with because he does not hesitate to argue a point, Sforza has always manifested and proved a definite friendship for the United States. He has always seemed to understand our position and I believe we could depend on him to keep us fully informed on Italian political developments. I personally feel that if he should not be appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs and MacFarlane has now done his utmost to prevent it, the United States will be the loser.
I should very much appreciate Department’s comments on foregoing as soon as possible. [Murphy.]
- Ivanoe Bonomi succeeded Marshal Badoglio as Italian Prime Minister on June 18, 1944.↩