Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, The British Commonwealth and Europe, Volume III

865.01/2171: Telegram

The Chargé at Algiers (Chapin) to the Secretary of State

Algiers, March 9, 1944—4 p.m.
[Received March 10—9:52 a.m.]

774. For the Acting Secretary from Reinhardt. General MacFarlane reports that Reber yesterday learned the following from Prunas:⁷⁰

Bogomolov⁷¹ (reference my 696, March 2, 9 p.m.⁷²) saw Badoglio Tuesday⁷³ morning and told him that the Soviet Government was prepared to establish diplomatic relations with the Italian Government and to exchange representatives who would have all the rights and privileges of Ambassadors and the same status as the Allied representatives near the French Committee of National Liberation in Algiers. Since this was an offer from one of the Allied Governments the Italian Government felt that it must accept and informed Bogomolov accordingly. Bogomolov is telegraphing Moscow and it is Prunas’ understanding that an announcement in this connection may be expected shortly from the Kremlin. The Italian Government hopes that the United States and British Governments in the meantime will not disclose to the Soviet Government the fact that they have received this information.

At the same meeting Bogomolov also asked Badoglio for facilities for the Soviet air force in southern Italy. Badoglio did not commit himself but simply inquired whether the attitude of the other Allied Governments had been ascertained in this connection. For the Department’s information Bogomolov has made a similar request to MacFarlane, explaining that his Government desired to maintain its own communications with Marshal Tito.⁷⁴ MacFarlane referred the question to Allied Force Headquarters which is submitting it to the Air Ministry London.

MacFarlane calls attention to the fact when Bogomolov saw him Tuesday afternoon Bogomolov did not mention the fact that he had seen Badoglio in the morning, not even in connection with his request for facilities for the Soviet Air Force which he made at that time. MacFarlane reports that Bogomolov will arrive in Algiers today, March 9, and has requested that we exercise extreme care not to disclose the fact that his meeting with Badoglio is known to us.

Sent to the Department as 774; repeated to Moscow as 12. [Reinhardt.]

Chapin

70. Renato Prunas, Secretary General, Ministry for Foreign Affairs in the Badoglio government.
71. Alexander Efremovich Bogomolov, Soviet member of the Advisory Council for Italy.
72. Not printed.
73. March 7.
74. Marshal Tito (Josip Broz), President of the National Liberation movement in Yugoslavia, and military leader of the Partisan guerrilla forces in what country.