Office of the Historian

740.00119 Control (Italy)/12–1345: Telegram

The Ambassador in Italy (Kirk) to the Secretary of State

Rome, December 13, 1945—6 p.m.
[Received December 14—4:58 p.m.]

4038. Prior to seeing Prime Minister yesterday, (see my 4014 of December 12) Admiral Stone received a letter of instructions from SACMED’s chief of staff along following lines:

(Begin Summary) With reference to communication to Italian Govt, Admiral Stone’s instructions, which will be confirmed in minutes of SACMED’s meeting December 11, are as follows:

(1)
Italian Govt should be informed that territories mentioned in Fan 634 will be returned about December 31 to Italian Govt control.
(2)
Prime Minister should be notified informally at time of making this communication that (a) there may be imposed at time transfer documents are signed condition that Italian troops other than Carabinieri should not be stationed within 15 mile zone of French-Italian boundary (b) Public announcement may be necessary to effect that return AC territories are without prejudice to any rectifications of Italian frontiers.
(3)
No publicity shall be given to possible rectification of Italian frontiers or to exclusion of Italian troops from French-Italian frontier zone.

[Page 754]

“Full consideration of Italian rights” mentioned in paragraph 3(b) of Fan 634 should not be referred to specifically since 2(b) above adequately covers future action re Italian frontier provinces.

No announcement should be made about hand back of northern provinces before morning of December 13. Meanwhile SAC will inform Chief of French Liaison Mission AFHQ that:

(1)
Hand over of Italian territories is without prejudice to any rectifications of Italian frontier which may be later agreed.
(2)
Hand over of territory will not affect existing restrictions of employment of Italian troops other than Carabinieri in frontier zone pending outcome of diplomatic negotiations between French Govt and UK and US.
(3)
SAC desires that no publicity should be given at present to conditions set out in (1) and (2) above in order to avoid embarrassment to Italians. (End of Summary).

Sent Dept 4038, repeated Caserta 1260.

Kirk