865.01/10911: Telegram
The Chargé at Algiers (Chapin) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:08 p.m.]
573. From Reinhardt. Yesterday Victor Emmanuel asked General MacFarlane to call on him at Ravello saying that he had a very important communication to make to him.
[Page 1032]The King asked MacFarlane to inform the Allied Governments that he felt his position had become almost impossible owing to fact that the Allies had permitted him to be openly discredited and attacked through PWB and lax censorship. Therefore he proposed to create a lieutenancy in accordance with precedent and to nominate as Lieutenant of the Realm with full power the Crown Prince. Although the lieutenancy would come into operation only when Rome was reached he was prepared to make the announcement at once. This postponement was desired by the King because he wished to reenter Rome himself and because it would be easier there for the Crown Prince to form a government. The Badoglio government would resign on reaching Rome. In connection with the Government which the Crown Prince would form the King mentioned names of Bonomi, Orlando, and De Nicola.63 This proposal was made, the King stated, on the understanding that he would be given assurances that there would be no more publicity given to attacks upon him by Italian press or radio. He was making a very great personal sacrifice in the interests of his country and he would not go an inch further he said. Furthermore, he would not permit the Crown Prince or his grandson to succeed him if he had to abdicate and the House of Savoy would thus no longer exist. De Nicola with whom he had discussed the above proposal was in favor of it. The King said that the only people on the Italian [apparent omission] Umberto, Aquarone, and Ferance of the Italian Foreign Office.
MacFarlane promised the King to forward his proposal and in due course to let him know reaction of Allied Governments.
MacFarlane makes the following comment:
- 1.
- There is no evidence to show that King’s proposal might be acceptable to more than the Right Wing of the anti-Fascist group.
- 2.
- The King’s categorical statement that this is the limit to which he will go should be treated with reserve.
- 3.
- The principal interest of this proposal is that it is the first indication that the King has really been impressed by the weight of the attacks made upon him.
Chapin
- Enrico de Nicola, President of the Italian Council of Ministers in 1924, and a member of the Senate in 1929.↩