740.00119 E.W./10–3045: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received 3:55 p.m.]
11344. Cadogan yesterday discussed at length with Carandini93 British attitude with respect to Italian desire that Armistice be terminated and replaced by agreements between Italy and American [Page 1074] and British Governments and gave him aide-mémoire94 which we were shown today by FonOff (Foreign Office). Its substance follows:
Begin Substance. British Government understands Italian position and would be glad to see termination of present arrangement with its limitations on Italian sovereignty. As early as January 1945 it had proposed to US Government early negotiation of treaty with Italy and conversations had recently been begun with US Government concerning means of satisfying Italy’s legitimate aspirations pending conclusions of a treaty, which would of course be the natural and proper solution.
It is accordingly neither unprepared for nor unsympathetic toward Italian request but could not minimize four difficulties:
- 1.
- Obligation under United Nations Declaration not to conclude separate peace or armistice.
- 2.
- Responsibility of US and UK as powers controlling SACMED (Supreme Allied Command Mediterranean) to safeguard interests in Italy of other United Nations.
- 3.
- Danger that Soviet Government would take similar action with respect to armistices with Rumania and other ex-satellites.
- 4.
- Conclusion of such agreements would be “counsel of despair and tantamount to admitting final breakdown of cooperation between Big Three”.
These difficulties were serious but British Government was continuing to seek remedy. It was fully aware of importance of Italian problem but considered international cooperation even more important. In any event certain basic questions including Italian frontiers, colonies and fleet must be reserved for peace treaty.
Public ignorance of Armistice terms no doubt contributed to exaggerated belief in Italy as to harshness of terms. British Government would be glad to cooperate in explaining situation to Italian people.
Dissolution of Allied Council would cause difficulties under 2 and 3 above but British Government was preparing directive to SACMED to reduce and curtail its activities.
British Government favored conclusion by Italy of commercial and economic agreements with other Governments. As to Swiss agreement, it could not agree, forthwith, with provision for payment of war debts but hoped this difficulty could be overcome. British Government’s opinion on this point was offered individually and not as member of AC (Allied Commission). British Government had pressed for removal of restrictions on business correspondence between Italy and other countries and was prepared to press for opening Italian-Swiss frontier to businessmen of both countries. End Substance.
We were also shown recent telegraphic exchanges with Washington and Caserta concerning publication of armistice terms and reminded [Page 1075] that Department’s views had not yet been received either concerning this or concerning Bolzano.
Sent Department repeated to Rome as 131.