740.00119 EW/2–546: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 6—6:03 a.m.]
1415. Hoyer Millar8 asks whether our draft provisions on revision of Italian armistice have yet been given to French and Russians. He says they have been communicated to Charles9 and appropriate authorities here for their views but Foreign Office is disturbed by Article III (A) providing for French and Soviet voice in controlling Italian Army at this time.10 He says there is considerable difference in four-power inspectorate after peace treaty takes effect and actual four-power control of Italian Army before that. Should there be further trouble about Val d’Aosta French participation would cause difficulties and there is no prospect of our getting any say on other satellite armies in return for giving Russians voice over Italian Army. They are cabling British Embassy Washington and if proposals have not already been given to others they would like us to consider their views on this first.
Hoyer Millar also states British Embassy Washington has been instructed to express disapproval of our proposal for formal Anglo-American economic body. Foreign Office much prefers informal arrangement of economic advisers of two Embassies working closely [Page 828] together. At Reber’s11 suggestion we have raised question of identical or coordinated instructions and Hoyer Millar states Foreign Office would be fully prepared for any necessary consultation here or in Washington in preparing closely coordinated instructions.
- F. R. Hoyer Millar, Head of the Western Department of the British Foreign Office.↩
- Sir Noel Charles, Representative of the United Kingdom to the Italian Government with the personal rank of Ambassador.↩
In the draft agreement (quoted in telegram 2312, December 10, 1945, to Rome, Foreign Relations, 1945, vol. iv, p. 1090), article III A reads as follows:
↩“The Allied Commission is hereby abolished.
[A.] A special section, with the Supreme Allied Commander as Chairman, composed of representatives of the armed forces of the United States, United Kingdom, the Soviet Union and France, shall be established at Allied Force Headquarters to assume the functions of organization and command of the Italian armed forces heretofore exercised by the Land, Navy, and Air Force Subcommissions of the Allied Commission. This section shall direct the size and character of all Italian armed forces and shall control the production of armaments.”
- Samuel Reber, Acting Chief, Division of Southern European Affairs.↩