811.7365/1–2846: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 29—12:15 a.m.]
467. Operation Italian submarine cables. (Your telegram 2070, November 10, 3 p.m., 194519). Admiral Stone20 has addressed letter dated January 25 to Dunn at London21 reviewing present status of Italian submarine cables which remain under operation of Cables and Wireless Ltd and urging most strongly that in protection of US national interests Department adopt uncompromising position that cables be restored to Italian operation and that they be towed out of Gibraltar to which they were diverted by British military in 1944. Admiral Stone emphasized that since Rome–Malaga–Horta cables were not diverted into Gibraltar and operated by Cables and Wireless until 1944 when Italy was co-belligerent, British claim to these cables as “war booty” is specious. Further he states cables were diverted on authority of CCS, that there is no present military necessity for retaining Allied operation, and that there is no ground for an implication that this question is one for British decision alone. He hopes that delegation will oppose any “steal” of Italian cables just as it opposes monetary reparations against Italy.
In message to AFHQ Admiral Stone recommends that same procedure be applied to cable terminals returning them to Italian operation as has already been applied to radio terminals and adds that since diversion of cables occurred after Italy’s co-belligerency there seems to be no more reason for Allies to operate cables than to operate railroads and other communication facilities.22
[Page 10]I urge that Department press British for early action on this specific cable question which it would appear need not be considered in connection with reparations or Italian treaty and which need not be linked with and dependent upon solution of entire question of disposal of post war cables throughout the world.
Repeated London 58 for Dunn and AmPolAd Caserta as 185.
- Not printed; it reported that the disposition of Italian submarine cables was discussed within the Department of State prior to the First Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers held in London September 11–October 2, 1945. In these discussions it was concluded that the cables should be returned to Italy. At the London session of the Council of Foreign Ministers there was discussion of this matter, but in informal exchanges with the British after the Council session, American officials ascertained that it was the British intention to lay claim to the Italian cables as war booty. Further discussions with the British on the matter were anticipated (811.7365/10–945).↩
- Rear Adm. Ellery W. Stone, USNR, Chief Commissioner, Allied Commission for Italy.↩
- A copy of Admiral Stone’s letter of January 25, 1946, was transmitted to the Department as an enclosure to despatch 3016, January 28, 1946, from Rome, neither printed (811.7365/1–2846).↩
- A copy of the message under reference here, dated January 25, 1946, was also transmitted to the Department as an enclosure to despatch 3016, January 28, 1946, from Rome, not printed.↩