865.01/11–2844: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
10352. Department’s 10051 November 30, midnight. Kirk has reported that the British Minister of State at AFHQ has received instructions [Page 1165] regarding the position he should take on the inquiry of the Chief Commissioner with respect to the formation of a new Italian Government. The instructions were along the following lines:
The position of AFHQ that the procedure established at the time of the change in Government last June should be followed in the present occasion is concurred in. Similar undertakings concerning the institutional question, the armistice and other obligations should likewise be given. The British Government considers that the present agreement requiring the submission of cabinet appointments to the Allied Commission should remain in force. The British Government does not approve AFHQ concession that the Government of Italy be permitted to appoint all officials not connected with the war effort. There is no agreement with the Government of Italy which justifies AFHQ nominating the Service Ministers. Cancellation of any communication already made to the Italians however is not suggested since it is assumed that the Americans have agreed to this proposal. It is hoped that the Italians will not make issue of this point. (End of British instructions.)
The fundamental point of difference between the British and American view is reflected in these instructions, namely, that the British Government does not approve of AFHQ position that the Italian Government should be free to choose the men who will form a new government, with the exception of those directly connected with the military effort. In this connection, reference is made to that portion of your representations expressing the hope of this Government that the British Government will concur in the policy expressed in the Department’s 10051 of November 30 and will leave any objection to personalities in the new government to SACMED for purely military reasons.
You should seek to work out with the Foreign Office some basis for a common approach to the Italian political problem within the framework of the Department’s policy. The Department considers that the representative character of any new Italian Government is of real concern to the British and American Governments. It does not agree that the two governments should concern themselves generally with the appointments of individuals.