Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1945, Europe, Volume IV

740.00119 Control (Italy)/11–1045: Telegram

The Chargé in Italy (Key) to the Secretary of State

Rome, November 10, 1945—noon.
[Received November 10—11:19 a.m.]

3477. Your 950, November 5, to Caserta. British Embassy has shown us telegram from Foreign Office to Halifax,⁹ repeated to Rome, giving your position on maintenance of AMG in Bolzano Province until final disposition. Foreign Office, accepting your position, expresses view that fuller statement to satisfy Italian public opinion is necessary.

British Embassy is replying that maintenance of AMG in Bolzano Province will be “serious shock” to Italian public and that it heartily agrees that some kind of statement for public consumption should be made by Allies. It is suggesting that following four points be included in any statement explaining why it is necessary to retain AMG in Bolzano Province which may be agreed to: (1) Job of rounding up Reich Germans estimated at approximately 30,000 has not yet been completed (2) Hitler-Mussolini agreement of 1939¹⁰ has created confused nationality problem (3) maintenance of AMG will not prejudice Italian plans for local autonomy in region (4) it will not prevent inhabitants of Bolzano Province from holding and participating in national elections.

Dept will recall that with reference to maintenance of AMG in Udine Province, it was considered desirable to make public statement explaining failure to hand it back to Italian jurisdiction with other northern provinces (Dept’s 1303, August 3). Same procedure should be followed with respect to Bolzano and I recommend that four points set forth above be included in any statement made by Allied Govts or Theater Commander at time of handback of north Italy to Italians. Statement should, however, in our opinion leave no doubt in minds of Italians that AMG will be maintained in Bolzano until final disposition.

Sent Dept as 3477; repeated London 311, Caserta 1013.

Key

9. Lord Halifax, British Ambassador in the United States.
10. Apparently reference is to results of discussions between representatives of the German and Italian Governments respecting the South Tyrol, June 23, 1939. For the results, see Documents on German Foreign Policy, 1918–1945, series D, vol. vi (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1949), pp. 778–779.