865.01/2240: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 23—10:32 p.m.]
2378. In House of Commons yesterday, members asked Foreign Secretary whether British Government proposed to establish formal diplomatic relations with Italy, and whether it had been consulted before Soviet action in this matter.
Mr. Eden’s reply was as follows:
“No communications have passed between His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom and the Italian Government regarding an exchange of diplomatic representatives between this country and Italy. His Majesty’s Government do not intend to alter the existing position under which relations between this country and the Italian Government are conducted through the medium of Allied Control Commission set up under the terms of the armistice with Italy. His Majesty’s Government are in communication with the Soviet Government regarding the exchange of representatives between that Government [Page 1073] and the Italian Government as to which they were not consulted beforehand and I have no further statement to make on this matter at the present time.”
Asked if he could say whether decision he had announced was made after consultation with United States Government, Mr. Eden said: “Yes, certainly; my honorable friend will observe that Mr. Hull used language very similar to that which I have just used”.9
A member of House asked whether before diplomatic representatives were exchanged, it would be kept in mind that it was essential for Italian Government to be made more democratic by introduction of elements who had always opposed fascism. Mr. Eden answered: “Perhaps the honorable gentleman will argue that out with the Soviet Government.”
Another member inquired whether the Soviet Government was associated with the provisional agreement between Great Britain and the U.S.A.10 to take a new view of the future government of Italy after the occupation of Rome. Foreign Secretary replied: “The Italian campaign is a combined Anglo-American operation, and for this reason the British and United States Governments were alone parties to the provisional agreement mentioned by the Prime Minister in his statement of February 22. The Soviet Government are, of course, represented on the Advisory Council for Italy, and they have not expressed any dissent from the course of action agreed upon, either to His Majesty’s Government or to the Council.”
Asked if affairs were not apt to go more smoothly if Soviet Union were associated with this provisional agreement between Great Britain and United States, Mr. Eden said: “I really do not think that is justified. The actual operations which have taken place in Italy are military operations with which our Government and the United States Government are in particular concerned. The Soviet Government is fully represented on the Advisory Council where it can state what views it likes. If the honorable member is suggesting that this action in some way did not concur with the views of the Soviet Government, he has only to remember the action they have taken in recognizing the Badoglio government”.
Answering another inquiry, Mr. Eden said that, “Immense pains have been taken by His Majesty’s Government and the American Government” to consult Russia “at every stage of this Italian business.”