740.00119 E.W. 1939/2–645: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy ( Kirk )74 to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:15 p.m.]
330. A number of newspapers this morning feature interview granted local press correspondents yesterday by Bonomi75 in which [Page 995] he is quoted as saying that the armistice follows the formula of unconditional surrender and thus “confers upon the Allies full powers over the internal, financial, economic and military life of the nation with the aim of placing at their command all of our remaining resources for the prosecution of the war. But in these admittedly stern conditions, there is no reference to the future status of Italy’s frontiers or to the disposition of colonies;76 moreover, there is no reference to Italy’s position in the world when peace is made. In other words, the armistice refers to the present rather than to the future”. Continuing, Bonomi is reported to have said that Italy has every right to defend its inviolable rights and to appeal to the spirit of justice of the great democracies adding that in this connection Italy must “give to international public opinion two decisive proofs; proof that she has returned to a sound democracy and proof that she has contributed with all her resources to the victory of the democratic cause against the forces of Nazism and Fascism”. Bonomi went on to say according to the press that the more Italian democracy replaced polemics with action, the more it would gain in estimation abroad and ended with reiterating the Government’s appeal for a stronger army and a greater part in the war effort.
- Alexander C. Kirk was also United States Political Adviser to the Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Theater. In this capacity, his office was located at Caserta.↩
- Ivanoe Bonomi, President of the Italian Council of Ministers.↩
- For documentation regarding disposition of Italian colonies, see Conference of Berlin (Potsdam), vol. ii, pp. 631–638.↩