865.01/12–444
The British Embassy to the Department of State
Aide-Mémoire
His Majesty’s Ambassador at Rome reported on December 1st that the Lieutenant of the Realm had said that he had requested Signor Bonomi to form a Cabinet but that if Signor Bonomi were not accepted by the six parties, he would ask Signor de Gasperi14 or Signor Ruini.15 If these had no success, His Royal Highness would consider Signor Croce or Signor Orlando.
- 2.
- On the same date His Majesty’s Government informed Sir Noel Charles that their interests demanded that the Italian Government should command the allegiance of the principal parties so that the risk of civil disturbance, which would embarrass their military requirements, might be so far as possible avoided. They would therefore much prefer that the Communists and the Socialists should be represented in the new government; though if they refused to come in, His Majesty’s Government would not on that account withhold approval from any alternative government that might be formed. Any of the personalities mentioned in Sir Noel Charles’ telegram above referred to would be acceptable to His Majesty’s Government as Prime Minister. Sir Noel Charles was informed that in these circumstances he should not hesitate to make known, in whatever manner he thought fit, the strong hope of His Majesty’s Government that the Italian parties will all cooperate in a new government and agree to continue to sink their political differences until their country, with Allied help, was cleared of the enemy. Sir Noel Charles was given authority, if he thought politic, to get into direct contact with Signor Togliatti.
- 3.
- On December 2nd Sir Noel Charles reported that Signor Bonomi was not likely to succeed in forming a government of the six parties and that at present he only had the support of the Liberals and Labour Democrats. The Christian Democrats were shy of joining him [Page 1162] as they feared a split in the party. If they were to do so it would be a right-wing government of three parties, as it seemed doubtful that the Communists would come in also.
- 4.
- His Majesty’s Government’s comment on this report is that the formation of a government, representing only two or three of the six parties, obviously has drawbacks and that any government so constituted seems unlikely to last long. But as indicated in paragraph 2 above, they do not feel that their approval should be withheld from it on that account. They trust that the United States Government holds a similar opinion.
- 5.
- His Majesty’s Government hope that the United States Government will ask the United States Representative in Rome to support Sir Charles in carrying out the instructions set out in the second paragraph of this Aide-Mémoire.
Washington
, December 4, 1944.