865.01/2677a: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union ( Harriman )

1502. You are requested to inform Molotov personally of the position of this Government in regard to the Bonomi Government as set forth in Department’s telegrams to Kirk, repeated to you as nos. 148570a and 1484 of June 13 and no. 1498 of June 16.71

[Page 1135]

In conveying the foregoing to Molotov you should explain to him that this Government has very much in mind the principles set forth in the Declaration on Italy adopted at the Moscow Conference to which the three Governments have subscribed.

Under the circumstances Allied refusal to permit the inauguration of the Bonomi Government which as you are aware is the first Italian Government composed entirely of representatives of anti-Fascist parties would run directly contrary to the principles contained in the Declaration on Italy and would gravely impair public confidence in the sincerity in the expressed aims and principles of the United Nations. You may express to Molotov the confidence of this Government that the Soviet Government will share our views on this subject.

Hull
  1. See footnote 66, p. 1131.
  2. Department’s telegrams 192 and 206 to Naples, repeated to Moscow as 1484 and 1498, respectively, not printed; but for United States position regarding Bonomi government, see aide-mémoire to the British Embassy, June 16, supra.