Defense Files: Telegram
The Acting Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean
Theater (Lee) to the Combined Chiefs of Staff
secret priority
Leghorn, 3 September
1947.
FX 77293 (Naf 1361).1 1. In order to make clear his interpretation
of his status as Commander of the British-United States Zone of the
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Free Territory of Trieste, until
Governor assumes office and the principles on which military government
policy is based, General Airey has issued a directive to Senior Civil
Affairs Officer for distribution to his officers in Trieste. At request
of General Airey as a matter of urgency I am transmitting for your
information the substance of this directive:
- “1. On termination on R
Day of Italian sovereignty, the Security Council
will become the theoretical apex of the political structure
of the FTT. They have
however, found it necessary, until the Governor assumes
office, to delegate their powers to the governments whose
armed forces are now occupying the respective zones and who
are alone empowered to give directions to the zone
commanders through whatever channels they consider
appropriate. In case of British-United States zone it has
been agreed that such directions are to be issued by
Combined Chiefs of Staff. It is therefore assumed that
Security Council are prepared to accept an administration
based on the status quo. Allied
Military Government in British-United States zone will in
fact be a trustee and caretaker administration, basing its
conduct as far as possible on the expression ‘continued’ in
Article 1 of Annexure 7 of the Peace Treaty. It may well be
that certain inconsistencies with the provisions of the
Peace Treaty may arise during the military government
period. This will, however, be inevitable and can only be
remedied by the early assumption of office by the
Governor.
- “2. Military government policy will therefore be regulated
by the following broad conditions:
- “a. The Zone Commander will
no longer be bound by the armistice or by the Duino
Agreement.
- “b. He will not be bound to
give effect to any of the provisions of the
permanent statute or other dispositions of the
Treaty or the annexures thereto. On the contrary, he
intends to avoid creating any precedent which would
limit the future freedom of action of the Governor
and of the provisional government of the FTT considered as a
whole.
- “3. Arising out of condition 2 b,
no changes in existing policy or practice will be introduced
which are not:
- “a. Imposed by the
fundamental change in the status of the zone.
- “b. Dictated by economic
and financial necessity with a view at least to
preventing the further deterioration of the
territory’s situation and to encouraging such use of
the Port of Trieste, including the existing free
port, as the limited means available allow.
- “c. Obviously required for
the well-being of the people of the zone and
inherently reasonable and capable of realization
without infringing the above conditions.”
2. My comments as Acting SACMED will
follow after consulting my political advisors.
