740.0011 EW 1939/34694a: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Acting Representative to the French Committee of National Liberation at Algiers (Chapin)
1807. For Murphy. Department’s telegram no. 1722, June 150 and memoranda on this subject which have been furnished you. You are familiar with the Department’s efforts to spare Rome from destruction incidental to the present military campaign. The new military developments bring, if anything, increased responsibility to the Allied armies and governments to protect the cultural and religious monuments of Rome and Vatican City. In advising the Supreme Allied Commander on these questions, you should adopt the position that we should take all possible steps to prevent Rome being considered a military target by the enemy. It is recognized that a limited number of Allied forces must be kept in Rome at least in the early stages to maintain order and to distribute supplies to the civilian inhabitants. It is understood that it is necessary to establish Allied Military Government for this purpose at least for a limited period. It is hoped, however, that Italian administrative and police facilites will be used to the extent possible and that there will be as little evidence of “Allied occupation” of the city as possible. You should discourage any attempt of AAI51 headquarters or AFHQ to establish themselves in Rome. The establishment of ammunition dumps or other military supplies within the city should likewise be avoided. If possible, the use of Rome by the Military should be limited to transit of troops and material by rail and highway, and no Allied troops except those necessary for policing and feeding the population should be quartered within the city limits. Rest camps within the city should likewise be kept at a minimum. If it is ultimately considered desirable for political and administrative reasons to move the seat of the Italian Government back to Rome, it is suggested that the three service ministries (War, Navy and Aeronautics) be established elsewhere as is now the case in Southern Italy.
[Page 1312]You should keep the Department fully informed of any plans concerning the use of Rome which in your opinion might tempt the Germans to bomb it as a military objective.
Sent to Algiers for Murphy, repeated to Naples for Kirk, and London.