Office of the Historian

701.0065/7–2644

The Director of the Office of European Affairs (Dunn) to General J. H. Hilldring, Director of the Civil Affairs Division of the War Department

[Washington,] July 26, 1944.

With reference to CCAC 111,63 there is attached a draft reply to General Wilson for your consideration. This represents the State Department’s views and, if you approve, you may wish to circulate something along these lines as the American position for consideration by the CCAC.

[Page 1181]

The British Embassy has been informed of this position with respect to Polish representation in Rome.64 Before informing the Polish Embassy, we are waiting for the British attitude which we believe is similar. We have already suggested to the Brazilian Government that their “observer” in Rome be designated as Consul General and they have agreed.65 The British have informed the Czechoslovak Government that there is no objection to its having consular representation in Italy.

There is, of course, good reason why the United Nations should have consular rather than diplomatic representation in Italy. All of them are either in a state of war with Italy or have broken diplomatic relations with that country, and are not yet in a position to resume diplomatic relations with the Royal Italian Government.

James Clement Dunn
[Enclosure]

Draft Telegram From Combined Chiefs of Staff to General Wilson

Principle of United Nations representation in Liberated Italy by Consular Officers has been established in Tam 125,66 agreed to by you in Mat 136.67 The various United Nations have been informed of this procedure. Consequently, M. Loret should be recognized as Polish Consul General in Rome. The Polish Government wall be informed that this appears to be an appropriate solution to the question raised concerning M. Loret, and that, if considered desirable, there would be no objection to his having the personal rank of Minister.

It is desirable that all the United Nations, not represented on the Advisory Council for Italy, should have uniform representation in Liberated Italy by consular officers. The Belgians already have a consular representative in Italy.68 The Government of Brazil has recently been informed by the State Department that it might appoint a Consul General to Rome.

While consular officers at the Italian capital should be permitted to have informal relations with the Italian Government, their recognition [Page 1182] and official functions should conform to the procedure already established for United Nations consular officers in Liberated Italy.

  1. Not printed, but see bracketed note regarding Naf 717, with which it was concerned, p. 1179.↩
  2. In telegram 2059, June 30, 1944, the Department informed Ambassador Murphy that the Polish Embassy had notified the Department that Mr. Loret, with the rank of Minister, was the Polish liaison with Allied authorities in Italy (740.00119 ACI/6–3044). In an aide-mémoire of July 7, 1944, the British Embassy objected to the term “Minister.” On July 19, 1944, the Department replied that Mr. Loret might be designated Consul General. (740.00119 ACI/7–744)↩
  3. In telegram 2470, July 21, 1944, the Chargé at Algiers notified the Department that permission had been granted the Brazilian Government to reopen the Consulate at Naples (702.3265/7–2144). Vasco Tristao Leitao da Cunha became Brazilian Consul General at Rome on August 30, 1944.↩
  4. Dated January 8, 1944, not printed; for pertinent portion of text, see memorandum of May 6, p. 1170.↩
  5. Not printed, but see footnote 37, p. 1171.↩
  6. Georges Carlier.↩