The British Prime Minister (Churchill) to President Roosevelt 44
London, 4 August
1943.
403. Former Naval Person to President.
- 1.
- Your number 342.45 War Cabinet have now given most careful consideration to proposals to make Rome an open city on the conditions specified. We are sure that the effect on public opinion here would be most unfortunate. What will the Russians say? It would be taken as a proof that we were going to make a patched-up peace with the King46 and Badoglio47 and had abandoned the principle of unconditional surrender. It would be taken all over the world and throughout Italy as a success for the new Italian Government who would have rescued Rome from all further danger. No doubt their greatest hope is to have Italy recognized as a neutral area, and Rome would seem to be a first instalment. Considering that Badoglio, according to all our information and especially the most secret, is giving repeated assurances to Germany and Japan that they mean to carry on the war and be faithful to their engagements, and that they are even repeating this kind of statements on the radio, we do not think they should be given the slightest encouragement. Although in the interval it would be convenient to secure the conditions proposed for Rome, this advantage in our opinion is far outweighed by the political misunderstanding which would arise among our own people and the stimulus given to a hostile Italian Government.
- 2.
- We hope that in a few months Rome will be in our hands, and we shall need to use its facilities for the northward advance. If Rome has been declared an open city by us, it will be practically impossible for us to take away its status when we want to use it and its communications and airfields. The British Chiefs of Staff say these “open city” conditions, applied to us, would paralyze the whole further campaign; and certainly the Germans would threaten Rome with bombardment if they were altered or broken. We think this a great danger.
- 3.
- In these circumstances would it not be better for us to talk the matter over when we meet? In the interest of putting the maximum political and military pressure on the Italian people and Government as well as for strictly military reasons we are most reluctant to interrupt such bombing of the marshalling yards, etc, as Eisenhower48 evidently thought desirable; but if you so desire it must be postponed until you and I have met.
- 4.
- Your number 34349 On this ground also I am so glad that we are going to meet. Pressure is growing from all quarters in this country, from the Dominions, particularly from Canada, and from several of the United Nations Governments with which we are in touch to “recognize” the French National Committee. Macmillan50 reports that he and Murphy51 are agreed in favouring this and that extreme bitterness and resentment will be caused among all classes of Frenchmen by continued refusal. In accordance with your wishes however we shall take no step pending our meeting to which I am keenly looking forward for reasons far removed from all this tiresome business.
Prime
- Copy of telegram obtained from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, N.Y.↩
- Not printed. It read: “I think we would be in a difficult position if we were to turn down the plea to make Rome an open city. I have just received from Washington the proposed conditions and given my approval in principle but I think we must be very sure of the inspection if the terms are accepted by Italy.” (Copy of this message obtained from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, N.Y.)↩
- Victor Emmanuel III of Italy.↩
- Pietro Badoglio, Head of the Italian Government.↩
- Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Commander in Chief of the Allied Forces in North Africa.↩
- Dated August 3, p. 182.↩
- Harold Macmillan, British Minister Resident, Allied Headquarters in North Africa.↩
- Robert D. Murphy, United States Political Adviser on the staff of the Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Theater; Personal Representative of President Roosevelt in North Africa.↩