740.00119 Control (Italy)/6–2845: Telegram

No. 172
The Ambassador in Italy (Kirk) to the Secretary of State ad interim

top secret

2801. At dinner last evening SAC1 informed us that he was frankly disappointed with statement (our 2650, June 162) recently made by McNarney on arrival US that by end of [19]45 only 2500 Amer troops would be left in Italy with exception of Amer div allocated for occupation of VG. He inquired whether we have rec’d any info from Washington as to possible change in Amer redeployment policy and whether we could not be persuaded to retain on continent of Europe considerable number of troops for some time or at least until there had been a full settlement of all major problems as result of war. We said to SAC that we had rec’d no info on this subject but that in any event we considered it one which should properly be dealt with on highest level. He then said in presence of Sir Desmond Morton Churchill’s asst also at dinner that he had rec’d personal msg from Brit PriMin asking him (SAC) to prepare carefully estimates as to what Allied forces should be left in Italy to handle any foreseeable situation.

He added that Church[ill] would take up with Truman “with great vigor” urgent desirability of leaving substantial Amer forces in Italy and elsewhere in Europe.3

Kirk
  1. Field Marshal Sir Harold Alexander.
  2. Not printed.
  3. For other indications that the British Delegation would wish to discuss this subject and the related question of the retention of a combined command in Italy at the Berlin Conference, see documents Nos. 193, 476, 480, and 481.