Royal Ship Rome Association

These conditions do not include active assistance from Italy in fighting the Germans. The extent to which these conditions will be modified in favor of Italy will depend on the extent of the aid that the Italian government and people will actually give to the United Nations against Germany during the remainder of the war. The United Nations, however, declare without reservation that, wherever the Italian forces or the Italians will fight against the Germans or destroy. they will get German goods or hinder German movements, they will receive all possible help from the United Nations forces. In the meantime, if information about the enemy is provided immediately and regularly, the Allied bombings will be directed, as far as possible, on the objectives affecting the movements and operations of the German Forces.

The cessation of hostilities between the United Nations and Italy will take place from the date and time that will be communicated by General Eisenhower.

The Italian government will have to undertake to proclaim the armistice as soon as it is announced by gen. Eisenhower and to order his military forces and his people to collaborate with the Allies and to resist the Germans, from that moment on.

At the time of the armistice, the Italian government will have to order that all United Nations prisoners in danger of being captured by the Germans be immediately released.

At the time of the armistice, the Italian government will have to order the Italian fleet and as much of the merchant navy as possible to set sail for allied ports. As many military aircraft as possible will have to travel to allied bases. Any ship or aircraft in danger of being captured by the Germans must be destroyed.

In the meantime, there are many things that Marshal Badoglio can do without the Germans noticing what he is preparing. The precise nature and extent of his action are left to his judgment; however, the following general guidelines are suggested:

 

1.   passive general resistance of the whole country, if this order can be transmitted to the local authorities without the Germans knowing;

2. small acts of sabotage throughout the country, especially of the communications and airports used by the Germans;

3. safeguarding allied prisoners of war. If the pressure of the Germans to have them delivered becomes too strong, they will have to be relaxed. ski;

4.   no warship shall be dropped into German hands. Arrangements will have to be made to ensure that all these ships can sail to the ports indicated by General Eisenhower as soon as he gives the order. The Italian submarines must not be recalled from their mission since this would reveal our common understanding to the enemy;

5. no merchant ship should be dropped into German hands. Merchant ships in the northern ports will have to sail, if possible, to the ports indicated by General Eisenhower;

6. Germans should not be allowed to take over Italian coastal defenses;

7. prepare plans, to be implemented at the appropriate time, for the Italian units in the Balkans to move towards the coast in order to be transported to Italy by the United Nations.