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269702660
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Memorandum for President Harry S. Truman
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269702660
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Memorandum for President Harry S. Truman
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President's Secretary's Files (Truman Administration)
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Return to Italy-Gordign
RNC
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
SUBJECT: French Occupation of Portions of Northwest Italy
The situation along Italy's northwest frontier con-
tinues to be highly unsatisfactory creating unrest and
tension. French troops operating under SCAEF engaged in
operations against the Germans in northwest Italy in the
last phases of the war. They penetrated some distance
into the provinces of Aosta, Turin, and Cuneo. After VE
day General Eisenhower ordered their withdrawal into France,
but the French Commander has failed to comply saying that
he must have instructions from his Government. Meanwhile
the number of French troops in Italy is increasing and
annexionist propaganda is carried out in the region occu-
pied by them.
Ambassador Caffrey has made repeated representations
in Paris and has been assured by General de Gaulle that
France has no territorial ambitions in this region other
than minor frontier adjustments which he hopes to take up
with the Italians amicably and through regular channels
at a later date. However, in view of the refusal of the
French troops to withdraw across the French border and
the intransigent line taken by the semi-official French
press agency recently you may wish to express to Mon-
sieur Bidault when you see him today your concern over
these developments and your expectation that all French
forces in northwest Italy and any irresponsible French
elements engaged in annexionist activities will be promptly
withdrawn into France as requested by SCAEF some weeks ago.
What we have said to Marshal Tito would be equally
applicable to the French or any other Government which
attempts to take into its own hands the occupation and
the interim administration of areas which it covets and
to which it has laid claim.
ARCHIVES NATIONAL RECORDS SERVICE** AND
the