Foreign Relations of the United States, Conferences at Washington and Quebec, 1943

Roosevelt Papers: Telegram

The British Consul General at Barcelona (Farquhar) to the British Ambassador in Spain (Hoare)¹

[Barcelona, August 5, 1943.]

An Italian called here today, stated that he wished to see you on important business, asked me to facilitate interview, and enquired whether you were in Madrid or had gone to San Sebastian. I told him he must first establish his bona fides and disclose his business. He then stated that his name was Pierino Busseti, had spent most of his time in Spain since 1939, address being Velásquez 71 Madrid, that he was engaged in business, had gone to Rome on June 9th then returned by aeroplane on August 2nd. He claims to be bearer of formal communication to His Majesty’s Government from following political parties, namely, Italian Democratic Party under leadership of Bonomi ex-Prime Minister, Italian Socialist Party (leader Vernocchi), Liberal Party (Orlando), Italian Popular Party (Saraceni), Republican Party (Comandini) and the Garibaldian Party (Pocci), who had on July 30 formed themselves into a “Committee of Action of Free Italy”.

2. This communication, which is in the form of a manifesto, and which bearer had memorized before leaving Rome and then wrote clown here, states that the Committee is of the opinion that the Government of Marshal Badoglio does not express the present wishes and desires of the Italian people; that this Government is attempting to make a compromise peace which is foredoomed to fail; and that the re-institution of repressive measures on Fascist morale [model?] makes it impossible for the Italian people to regain their freedom without armed assistance from the outside by the United Nations. This committee, representing as they do all shades of political opinion in Italy and confident that the recent declarations of His Majesty’s Government and the United States Government still hold good, propose to His Majesty’s Government, who would duly communicate with the Government[s] of Allied nations, that recognition be given to the Committee as their Allies in the fight against Fascism and Naziism. If this recognition is given, the Committee affirms its intention of taking all possible measures against the Germans who occupy Italy and of acting in concert with the Allies to this end. The Committee considers itself a form of provisional government and hopes to concert concrete measures with His Majesty’s Government.

3. The communication ends by stating that the bearer is their accredited representative and that he has been instructed to remain in Spain for the purpose of taking back to Italy any answer you may think fit to give.

4. Translation by next bag.

5. Please see my immediately following telegram.²

1. The text of this message was made available to the Department of State by the British Embassy at Washington, was delivered to the White House Map Room by the Department during the evening of August 6, 1943, and was forwarded by the Map Room to Roosevelt, who was then at Birch Island, Ontario, by telegram during the night of August 6–7.
2. Infra.