S E C R E T ENCLOSURE "A" COLLAPSE OR UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER OF ITALY 3. Problem. To determine the courses of action the UNITED NATIONS should adopt in the event of the. collapse or unconditional sur- render of ITALY. 4. There are three general conditions which may develop within continental ITALY which may require the establishment of UNITED NATIONS forces on Italian soil. These are: a. Civil war, resulting from an Anti-Fascist and Anti- German revolution. b. The "collapse" of ITALY, meaning the disintegration of organized government followed by political chaos. c. "Unconditional surrender" of ITALY, meaning the orderly compliance with terms of surrender through the control of an organized government. 5. A civil war in ITALY may develop through the rise of an Anti-Fascist and Anti-German revolution.. This contingency is most unlikely because, at present, contrary to some opinion, large elements of the populace approve the German alliance, and no individual or group is considered to be strong enough, or to have sufficient prestige, to initiate or lead such a revolution. However, should these unlikely conditions of a civil war develop, it might become necessary, on an appeal for aid by the revolution- ists, for the UNITED NATIONS to furnish them Military support 6. The collapse of ITALY may be brought about by one factor or varying combinations of the following factors: Military re- verses, refusal by GERMANY of further Military assistance, de- struction caused by the UNITED NATIONS air offensive, subversive - 2 - |