740.00119 European War 1939/1985
The Department of State to the British Embassy
Memorandum
A copy of the British Embassy’s aide-mémoire of November 2, 1943 proposing the publication of the full terms of surrender for Italy was submitted to the Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy for the consideration of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff. Admiral Leahy has now replied that after careful consideration the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff are of the opinion that the terms of surrender for Italy should be kept secret and that they should not be made public at this time.
As Mr. Hayter45 has been informed orally, General Eisenhower, whose views in the matter were requested, has replied that he considers it undesirable to proceed to the publication of the full terms at this time particularly in view of the possible imminent changes in the Italian Government.
[Page 392]Consequently, it would be appreciated if the Embassy would inform the Foreign Office that in the opinion of the Government of the United States it would be contrary to the best interests of the United Nations to make public at this time the Italian terms of surrender.
The Department of State is agreeable to the proposal of the Foreign Office contained in paragraph 4 of the Embassy’s aide-mémoire under reference concerning the communication of the text of the full terms of the Italian surrender to the representatives in London of the European members of the United Nations who are at war with Italy as well as to the representatives of Iraq and Ethiopia, provided the representatives are informed at the time that for vital military reasons the full terms of surrender must be kept secret for the time being. The Department of State will communicate in secret the full terms of surrender of Italy to the members of the United Nations among the other American Republics. China and Brazil have already received copies in strict confidence.
- W. G. Hayter, First Secretary of the British Embassy.↩