740.00119 Control (Italy)/8–2345: Telegram
The Secretary of State to Mr. Alexander C. Kirk, Political Adviser to the Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Theater, at Caserta
781. Commenting on French representations for special measures in the event of AMG withdrawal from Northwest Italy Dept attitude as stated in 1358 [1351], Aug. 11, to Rome is that the Morgan–Carpentier and Doyen–Truscott agreements are purely military, relate only to withdrawal of French forces and establishment of AMG, make no commitment on AMG duration or obligation extending beyond period of AMG. Article 8 of agreement cited in your 3350, Aug. 23,53 provides among other details of French troop withdrawal from Italian territory that no Ital army troops will be stationed within 15 miles of the frontier as long as Allied troops are available. Dept does not understand that provision to be a commitment to maintain Allied troops beyond the period of AMG or the basis for any special regime in Northeast Italy.
For your guidance, we would welcome maintenance of liaison officers in NE Italy in order to have complete information on developments. However, we are opposed to any special arrangements after the hand-back of North Italy which either Italians or French would interpret as encouraging French claims to Ital territory or affording protection to annexionist activities.
- Not printed.↩