Post by Diarist on Feb 10, 2016 12:07:39 GMT 1
The British delegation led by Secretary Winston Churchill arrived in Paris in the early evening and met their French counterparts for a working dinner. Actually they met in small groups. Winston Churchill and John Simon, (the Deputy Foreign Secretary), dined with Secretary Éduard Daladier as well as François Pétri and Pierre Cot, the Naval and Air Ministers.
They quickly agreed on the text to be sent to the League Council meeting planned in Geneva tomorrow. It demands that the Kingdom of Italy concedes defeat and calls upon an immediate ceasefire in all theatres. The Italian overseas territories in Africa will be surrendered to British, French and Abyssinian authorities; the Dodecanese islands to Greek rule. In return all Italian citizens and military personnel will be granted safe passage home. The return of territory in mainland Italy will depend on how soon these conditions are met. The longer the conflict continues the less likely that occupied territory will be returned swiftly or even returned at all. The fascist Italian government must be dismissed from power and banned from future politics. The League of Nations can decide whether members of the current Italian leadership will be charged with crimes against humanity or not.
The second item on the agenda was the leaflets. It was decided to address the message to King Victor Emmanuel III and the Italian people calling on them to dispose of Mussolini and his government. There can be no peace with Mussolini still in power. They would be dropped over major Italian cities in the early hours of 15 September.
Before retiring to bed, Winston Churchill was informed that the Yugoslavians would be joining the conflict against Italy tomorrow and it is recommended that the 40th RAF Wing (Bomber) be transferred from Greece to northern Yugoslavia. It was approved. Hopefully this new development will make the Italian decision easier.