740.00119 European War 1939/2017
The Department of State to the Belgian Embassy 49a
Memorandum
Reference is made to note D. 8248 No. 5951 dated December 3, 1943 from the Belgian Embassy concerning the signature of the Additional Conditions of the Armistice with Italy on September 29 at Malta. The Embassy states that its Government cannot agree to the procedure which was followed by the Allied signatory in acting “on behalf of the United Nations” and expresses the hope that it will not serve as a precedent. The opinion is expressed that considerations of urgency and secrecy did not exist when the additional conditions were signed on September 29.
The Government of the United States cannot accept this view. The Embassy is assured that there did exist vital military considerations which required that the signing of the additional terms on September 29 be guarded with greatest secrecy. None of the United Nations except those conducting active military operations in Italy had knowledge of the signing of this document, nor was it possible, for reasons of security to arrange for the presence of representatives of those United Nations most directly interested in Italy at the signing. It is only recently that the Allied military authorities have approved the communication of the text of the additional terms, in secret, to the Governments of the United Nations. In view of the important military considerations which are still involved, the Secretary feels certain that the Embassy and the Belgian Government will continue to [Page 401] maintain the secret character of the Additional Conditions of the Armistice with Italy.
The reservations of the Belgian Government with respect to paragraphs B and C of Article 28 of the Additional Conditions of the Armistice with Italy have been noted and are receiving careful consideration. A further reply in this respect will be made at a later date.
The intention of the Belgian Government to send a consul general to Italy to interest himself in all matters pertaining to Belgian nationals has been referred to the Theater Commander of the Allied forces whose approval must first be obtained. A further communication to the Embassy will likewise be made in this regard when a reply has been received from General Eisenhower.
- A practically identical note to the Netherlands Ambassador, dated December 21, not printed.↩