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  4. Document 556

740.00119 EW/1–546: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in the Soviet Union ( Kennan )

secret
Washington , January 5, 1946—3 p.m.

27. Deptel 2359 Nov. 17.2 Please inquire if FonOff has reached decision re modification of Ital armistice regime. You should say that Ital Govt, with support of all parties in coalition, has continued to urge modification, which it regards as necessary to enable Govt to meet immediate internal problems facing it, and Dept feels US, UK and Soviet Govts should do what they can to demonstrate to Ital people that democratic political elements in Italy have support and confidence of Allies in their endeavor to establish democratic state. Dept is of opinion that numerous obsolete restrictions in armistice regime could be abolished, and hopes therefore that Soviet Govt will concur in proposed modification.

Dept would also be glad to know Soviet Govt’s views re inclusion of French Govt (Deptel 2409 Nov. 283) in armistice regime revision.

Byrnes
  1. Not printed; it was similar to telegram 2123, November 17, to Rome, ibid., p. 1087.↩
  2. Ibid, p. 1089.↩