865.01/2469: Telegram
The Consul General at Naples (Brandt) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 30—1:45 p.m.]
101. [From Kirk.] At a further meeting with Generals Wilson and MacFarlane, Macmillan and myself today, there was discussion regarding the proposal for Crown Prince, Badoglio and members of Italian Government to accompany MacFarlane as head of ACC on a visit to Rome at earliest moment of relative security. MacFarlane who supported such a visit urged that it was necessary that premature [Page 1121] contacts between party leaders from Naples and those in Rome which might lead to all sorts of political effervescence should be prevented. He said Sforza was urging that Omodeo56 and others involved in the defascistization program be permitted to enter practically with combat troops and that he opposed the plan. The meeting supported MacFarlane on this point but I questioned whether it would not add to prestige of present Italian Liberal Government if Rome party leaders came to the Government in Salerno first. That visit could then be followed as promptly as convenient by a brief visit by Italian Government accompanied by MacFarlane to Rome which as AMG territory would not be open to Italian Government as its seat for some time to come. It was agreed MacFarlane would present this view to Badoglio.
MacFarlane also referred to King’s urgent request for permission to visit Rome. He was informed it was not considered advisable or necessary that King visit Rome but that King should be informed Allies expected he would fulfill his promise to retire from public life immediately Allied troops enter Rome. This MacFarlane was instructed to do and it was agreed General Alexander would inform MacFarlane for information of King exact time this occurred for his guidance. I suggested MacFarlane request Badoglio to have necessary transfer document prepared now.
MacFarlane closed meeting after discussion of number of details of operation of ACC with plea that he be authorized to explain to Badoglio exact status of Italian prisoner-of-war question and fact that Allies were proceeding to dispose of this question exactly as they would have if Italians had signed the agreement on this subject which Badoglio refused. MacFarlane said his position vis-à-vis Badoglio is becoming extremely embarrassing on this point as Italians learn every day of new dispositions made by Allies including shipments of their prisoners to United Kingdom and other places whereas all MacFarlane is able to tell Badoglio is that he has no instructions from Combined Chiefs of Staff on this subject. MacFarlane was informed that for moment there is nothing further he could say to Badoglio in this respect except that Italian requests are receiving careful study. [Kirk.]
- Adolfo Omodeo, Italian Minister of National Education.↩