740.00119 Council/9–2445: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received 9 p.m.]
9901. Delsec 52. From the Secretary for Acheson. I understand from the British that they have asked their Embassy in Washington to ask the Combined Chiefs of Staff to instruct Field Marshal Alexander to make a report on those articles of the Italian surrender instrument which could be canceled and those articles which should be retained in order to meet the US and British military requirements, the new situation to be without prejudice to any arrangements provided for in the treaty of peace with Italy. I am anxious to have the [Page 1055] US Chiefs of Staff join in such an instruction to Alexander. Please inform the Secretaries of War and Navy and the Joint Chiefs of Staff accordingly and say that I suggest that Alexander in drawing up this report consult the US and British Ambassadors in Rome and that the report should be made through the Combined Chiefs of Staff to the US and British Govts. [Byrnes.]