865.01/2227: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé at Algiers (Chapin)
890. For Reinhardt. You should proceed to Italy to be present should there be a meeting of the Advisory Council to discuss the situation arising from the agreement of the Soviet Government with the Italian Government to exchange diplomatic representatives. Macmillan has already been instructed to go to Italy to take this matter up with General MacFarlane and Bogomolov, and to decide whether the Council should be immediately convoked.
The following is a summary of the points telegraphed by the British to Macmillan for consideration:
- (1)
- Did the Italian Government consult the Control Commission prior to its agreement with the Soviets for an exchange of representatives? (In the Department’s view this question was satisfactorily answered in your 910 of March 20, 4 p.m.)
- (2)
- Badoglio’s proposal to MacFarlane that allied status be accorded Italy. (See Algiers’ telegram 937, March 22, 4 p.m., and copy of the President’s letter to Badoglio in Reber’s possession.) You should take the position that it is premature to consider full allied status for Italy now and recommend that Badoglio be dissuaded from presenting his proposal officially at this time.
- (3)
- It is believed that Bogomolov intends to propose still closer relations with the Italian Government. He should be asked exactly what the Soviet Government contemplates and advised that any further arrangements must be previously discussed in the Advisory Council, and also that the Italian Government is being informed that they are not entitled to enter into any arrangement with any foreign power, whether Allied or neutral, without the consent of the Supreme Allied [Page 1078] Commander which should be sought through the Control Commission. This is based on the inherent rights established by the armistice, and on the general right of a Commander-in-Chief of occupying forces on the grounds of military security, to control relations between the occupied territory and all other countries. After thus informing Bogomolov, MacFarlane should be instructed to speak to the Italian Government along the lines indicated.
The British Embassy consulted with the Department on the above directives and expressed the hope that this Government would instruct its representative on the Advisory Council in a similar vein. The Department is in accord with the British views and the above is for your guidance should a meeting of the Council be held.