Office of the Historian

865.00/7–645: Telegram

No. 477
The Ambassador in Italy (Kirk) to the Acting Secretary of State 1
[Extract]2
secret
Rome, July 6, 1945—midnight.

1851. Strictly confidential.

. . . . . . .

… It must be admitted, however, that in the present circumstances no govt however gifted can prove its effectiveness unless the armistice regime is abolished[,] unless Allied troops are maintained in the country to give confidence to the people in their prevailing state of demoralization and unless material aid is immediately forthcoming to prevent unrest through widespread unemployment and undernourishment.

Kirk
  1. The gist of this message was included in telegram No. 11 of July 10 from Grew to Byrnes (file No. 740.00119 Potsdam/7–1045).↩
  2. For the full text of this message, see document No. 469.↩