740.0011 EW 1939/34272: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Acting Representative to the French Committee of National Liberation at Algiers (Chapin)
1544. For Murphy. Your telegram concerning the question of declaring Rome an open city (your 1599, May 16, 10 p.m.) was delayed [Page 1307] in transmission and did not reach us until today. We have learned informally from the United States Chiefs of Staff that the British message to Washington referred to in the first paragraph of your message has not yet been made available to the United States Chiefs of Staff.
On April 14, 1944 we sent a telegram to the Embassy at London reading as follows:
(Code Room: Here quote Department’s 2958, April 14, 1944, 3 p.m. to London)
On May 12, 1944 we sent a further telegram to London marked Personal for the Ambassador reading as follows:
(Code Room: Here quote Department’s 3801, May 12, 1944, 6 p.m. to London)
It is believed that these two telegrams will give you full information in regard to our attitude on this whole question. Your attention is invited to the fact that the suggestion that a proposal might be considered to declare Rome an open city with a reservation of transit rights for both sides originated in the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff after a full appraisal of the military aspects of the question, and not as General Wilson was informed in the State Department.