865.01/2198: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman)
632. You will note from the instructions contained in our 602, March 16, midnight, which was drafted and approved by the War Department before the receipt of your 855, March 14, 9 p.m., and subsequent telegrams on the subject that our views are identical with your own in regarding seriously the action of the Soviet Government in recognizing the Badoglio Government without prior consultation with us or the British. I desire to commend you for the initiative which you took with Vyshinski and the views expressed in your memorandum96 to him, and I believe that our instructions will effectively support the position you have taken. We will of course give consideration to the further step of a personal message from the President to Stalin or from me to Molotov when we have received your report of the reaction of the Soviet Government to the proposal contained in the last paragraph of our 602.
You will likewise have seen from the radio bulletin that yesterday in response to a direct question I told the correspondents that this Government had not been consulted in advance by the Soviet Government [Page 1062] in regard to the exchange of diplomatic representation with the Badoglio regime. I also made it clear in reply to further questions that the Advisory Council on Italy would have been the appropriate organization to give attention to any such arrangement and that this Government under its present policy did not contemplate the establishment of similar relationship with the Badoglio Government.
Press and radio comment in the United States in regard to the Soviet action has on the whole avoided undue speculation as to Soviet motives but has called attention to the establishment of special machinery for coordination of policies of the three Governments with regard to Italy. This latest move of the Soviet Government has, however, added to the uncertainty and apprehension in the mind of the American public as to the sincerity and willingness of the Soviet Union to accept wholeheartedly the principle of collaboration in the conduct of international affairs.
We are in entire accord with the views expressed in the last two paragraphs of your 875, March 16, 4 p.m., but contemplate no further steps in regard to the Soviet action until we hear from you.