740.00119 Control (Italy)/9–445: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 5—7:05 a.m.]
2572. I assume that Dept has already seen Naf 1069, September 1 to CCS (Combined Chiefs of Staff) containing SAC’s (Supreme Allied Commander’s) recommendations on withdrawal of AMG (American Military Government) from north Italy this month. Administrator [Admiral] Stone has sent following comments to AFHQ (Allied Forces Headquarters).
(Begin paraphrase) I would like to call attention to following points in connection with your Naf 1069, September 1. With full agreement of United States and United Kingdom Ambassadors, I strongly recommended in my 2960, August 139 return of Udine Province on December 1 and return of Bolzano Province on same date as remainder of northern Italy. Supported by equal unanimity here, [Page 1034] I urged in my 3748, August 1541 return to Italian administration on September 15 or 21 days after receipt of CCS approval of northern regions including Bolzano and return of Udine including Tarvisio area not later than first of December. I informed Prime Minister of my recommendations re date of turnback and forwarded his views re Udine in my 3937 of August 20.41
I have never mentioned to Parri as is obvious from the above record that AMG might be retained in Bolzano after the rest of north Italy had been handed back. It is likewise obvious from Naf 1069 that views of myself and my political advisers on Udine Province (including Tarvisio) and Bolzano have not yet been forwarded to CCS and that whatever form your further recommendations in this regard may take, future of above Provinces will be considered as separate issue after (or at best simultaneously with) consideration of general hand-back rather than before. Even further delay will result from this procedure I am afraid. Furthermore, as your Deputy President, I have the embarrassing task of explaining to Parri that your recommendations were made to CCS too late to make September 15 effective turnback date, this date in itself being a postponement from the original target date of September 1. On top of this must come the further admission that there is doubt re the return of Bolzano.
Since postponement of return to Italian jurisdiction to month of October would create highly unfavorable impression locally, I urge that my recommendations re Bolzano and Udine be forwarded without delay to CCS. I finally recommend that words “whichever date is the sooner” be substituted for “whichever date is the later”. (End of paraphrase).’
Without commenting on the deplorable delay in presenting this matter to CCS by AFHQ following Stone’s message of August 15 (see my 2379, August 17), I wish to state I heartily endorse Admiral Stone’s recommendations to AFHQ made on August 1 (see my 2254, August 741 and Dept’s 1376, August 18) and hope that Dept will give them full weight when assisting in preparation of reply to Naf 1069.
Sent Dept; repeated Caserta 563.