Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, The British Commonwealth and Europe, Volume III

701.6266A/6–344

Mr. J. Wesley Jones of the Division of Southern European Affairs to the Second Secretary of the British Embassy (Middleton)⁴⁷

Washington, June 5, 1944.

Dear Middleton: I refer to Barclay’s letter of May 1, 1944 (Ref. 321/27/44) to Hill concerning the status of neutral diplomatic representation in Italy. After careful consideration it is the Department’s opinion that the diplomatic representatives of neutral states accredited to the Royal Italian Government be permitted to remain in Rome. The security measures to be applied to these neutral representations must, of course, be determined by the Allied military authorities; and whatever steps, relating to communication facilities, circulation of personnel, etc., are considered necessary from a military standpoint will be acceptable to the Department. There should, of course, be no violation of diplomatic immunity with respect to persons and establishments of neutral representations in Rome.

Concerning the relations of the neutral missions with the Italian Government, the Department would prefer to see no ruling on this question at the present time; rather to await developments and consider the problems involved as they may arise after the Italian Government has returned to Rome. It may prove impractical to insist that all contact between the neutral missions and the Italian Government after its establishment in Rome be conducted through the Allied Control Commission. We could instruct the Allied Control Commission through appropriate military channels that it should direct the Italian Foreign Office to keep it informed of all discussions and negotiations with foreign governments and that it may not sign any foreign agreements without the consent and approval of the Commission. With the exception of Soviet Russia, it is anticipated that the various United Nations, which have all broken relations or are at war with Italy, will have no interest or desire to conduct relations with the Italian Government except through the Allied machinery already in existence. The position of neutral powers is, of course, somewhat different since they have never broken relations with the Royal Italian Government.

It is understood that the British military authorities will treat any Finnish diplomatic representative found in Rome as an enemy diplomat.⁴⁸ The Allied military authorities, however, may wish to consider different treatment for the representative of the Danish Government if he is still in Rome, in view of the suppression of the Danish Government and Denmark’s occupation by the Germans.⁴⁹ It is understood that the Danish Minister in Rome, Mr. Otto Wadsted, has pro-Allied sympathies and will probably renounce, if given the opportunity, his relationship with any Danish administration under German occupation as his colleagues in London⁵⁰ and Washington have done.⁵¹

On the assumption that some guidance should be sent to the Supreme Allied Commander, I am enclosing a proposed cablegram to AFHQ for submission to the Combined Civil Affairs Committee to consider at its meeting next Thursday, June 8. If you concur with the general line of such a directive, we can submit identical drafts to our respective Secretaries on the Committee.

Sincerely yours,

J. Wesley Jones

[Enclosure]

Draft Cablegram to General Wilson for Consideration of Combined Civil Affairs Committee

The State Department and Foreign Office have been giving consideration to the status of diplomatic representations in Rome of neutral countries. The British and American Governments have agreed that neutral diplomatic missions and personnel should be allowed to remain in Rome. You will, of course, apply whatever security measures you consider necessary with respect to the communications and circulation of personnel of the various neutral missions. In reply to any protest, you may cite the extraordinary measures which have been adopted in the British Isles with respect to Allied as well as neutral diplomatic missions. The inviolability of the person and establishment of neutral diplomatic representations should, of course, be respected.

Representatives of Finland are to be accorded, by the British military authorities, the same treatment as other enemy diplomats. You should give the Danish Minister, if found in Rome, the opportunity to declare his political sympathies and to renounce his relationship with the Danish administration under German occupation as his colleagues in London and Washington have done.

While it has been established that relations between all foreign governments and the Italian Government be conducted through the Allied Control Commission, it is considered in some quarters that this may not be practical as regards neutral diplomatic missions in Rome after the return of the Italian Government to the Capital. Your recommendations on this point are requested.

47. The substance of this letter was transmitted to Mr. Kirk as telegram 158, June 7, as a reply to his telegram 74, May 20, p. 1173. Mr. Murphy was informed in telegram 1835, June 10, and a circular telegram was sent June 9, 8 p.m., to London, Moscow, Madrid, Lisbon, Algiers, Stockholm, and Cairo.
48. The British Government, having broken diplomatic relations with Finland on August 1, 1941, declared war on December 6, 1941. For correspondence regarding this subject, see Foreign Relations, 1941, vol. i, pp. 1 ff.
49. German troops occupied Denmark on April 9, 1940.
50. Count Eduard Reventlow.
51. For correspondence regarding the recall by the Danish Government of the Danish Minister to the United States, Henrik de Kauffmann, in April 1941, his refusal to accept recall on the ground that the Danish Government was acting under duress, and his continued recognition by the United States as Danish Minister, see Foreign Relations, 1941, vol. ii, p. 47 ff.