865.01/2256: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 28—11:35 a.m.]
1076. Your 689, March 24, 1 p.m. As Molotov was unable to see me till tomorrow I saw Vyshinski this evening and told him that rumors had come to the attention of my Government to the effect that [Page 1080] the Soviet Government intended to follow a separate course in its dealings with the Italian Government and to achieve closer relations with the Italian Government than were now maintained by the other Allied Governments, and that the Soviet Government intended to conclude various political agreements directly with the Italian Government. I expressed the earnest hope that the rumors had no basis in fact. He stated that the rumors were without any basis. He continued that the Soviet Government had expressed its position in the memorandum of March 19 delivered to you by the Soviet Ambassador, and that any rumors that went beyond the statements set forth in this memo were without foundation.
He asked whether the rumors contained any further details as to the agreements I had referred to. I explained to him that the rumors as far as I understood it were generally about the intention of the Soviet Government to exploit its more favored position to the advantage of the Soviet Government as against the British and ourselves. He said that there was no foundation for such rumors. He added that they did not consider that they had a more favorable position in comparison with us.
In leaving I expressed the personal opinion that my Government would be disappointed in Mr. Molotov’s reply of March 25,17 regarding the question of exchange of representatives with the Italian Government because of the Soviet Government’s unwillingness to have the question resolved in the Advisory Council. He said the Soviet Government considered that it was better to deal with it through diplomatic channels as the members of the Advisory Council would only have to refer the question back to their Governments. He further expressed the hope that the matter could be worked out to the satisfaction of us all. I said I could not express a further opinion about it till I had heard from my Government.
Sent to Department, repeated to London as No. 62 and to Algiers for Reinhardt.
- See telegram 1050, March 26, supra.↩