FW865.01/2197: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 15—1:06 p.m.]
842. Izvestiya for March 14 publishes the following Tass despatch from Algiers dated March 13:
“On March 7, 1944, the Italian Government through the President of the Council of Ministers, Marshal Badoglio, addressed to the Soviet Union a request for the establishment of direct relations between the Soviet and Italian Governments and for the exchange of representatives of the two Governments. On March 11, 1944, the Soviet Government informed Marshal Badoglio of its agreement to the establishment of direct relations between the two Governments and the exchange of representatives.”