740.00119 European War 1939/9–2343:
Telegram
President Roosevelt
to the Commander in Chief of Allied Forces (Eisenhower)95
[Washington,] September 22, 1943.
In reply to your NAF 409 and NAF 410,96 the following
directive has been agreed upon by the Prime Minister and myself:
- “1. You will withhold long term armistice provisions
pending further instructions.
- “2. On the basis of military necessity, you are empowered
to make recommendations from time to time to lighten the
provisions of the military armistice in order to enable the
Italians, within the limit of their capacities, to wage war
against Germany.
- “3. On condition that it declare war on Germany, the
present government of Italy be permitted, subject to the
provisions of paragraph 4 hereunder, to carry on as the
government of Italy and as such be treated as a
co-belligerent in the war against Germany. Such relationship
to be based on the clear understanding that it is not in any
way to prejudice the untrammeled right of the people of
Italy to decide on the form of government they will
eventually have; that no final form of the government of
Italy will be decided upon until the Germans are evicted
from Italian territory.
- “4. The Allied Military Government and the appropriate
functions contemplated for the Armistice Control Commission
will be merged as promptly as practicable into an Allied
Commission under the Allied Commander in Chief which shall
be empowered to furnish guidance and instructions from time
to time to the Badoglio government on military, political
and administrative matters.
- “5. You will encourage, in all practical ways, the
vigorous use, under your direction, of the Italian armed
forces against Germany.
- “6. You are authorized to inform the French military
authorities of the above to the extent that you deem
advisable.”
Following is message number 418 from the Prime Minister to me on the same
subject which I send to you as commentary.
[Here follows text of message printed supra.]
