865.30/34: Telegram
The Vice Consul at Algiers ( McBride ) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 11—1:10 p.m.]
109. From Murphy.67 Commander in Chief68 has been informed one Italian cruiser and two destroyers may be en route to Spanish ports in Balearic Islands. It is understood London has instructed British Ambassador69 to make representations to Spanish Government looking toward release of these ships as well as any Italian merchant ships now in Spanish ports since by terms of armistice with Italy70 all Italian vessels were to be delivered to Allied authorities.
[Page 712]Commander in Chief requests you concert with British Ambassador and support any representations which he may have made on subject.
Sent to Madrid, repeated to Department. [Murphy.]
- Robert D. Murphy, Chief Civil Affairs Officer at Algiers; U.S. Political Adviser, staff of the Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Theater; Personal Representative of President Roosevelt in North Africa, with the rank of Minister.↩
- Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower.↩
- Sir Samuel Hoare.↩
- For text of the Armistice with Italy signed September 3, 1943, but not announced until September 8, see Department of State, United States and Italy, 1936–1946, Documentary Record (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1946), p. 51; Treaties and Other International Acts Series No. 1604; or 61 Stat, (pt. 3) 2740. For correspondence concerning this subject, see pp. 314 ff.↩