865.01/2259: Telegram
The Chargé at Algiers (Chapin) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 30—12:30 a.m.]
1029. From Reinhardt. General MacFarlane reports that Bogomolov called on him the evening of March 27. Bogomolov talked for nearly an hour and was clearly anxious to be friendly. According to MacFarlane he gave the impression of a penitent cobra being matey. Bogomolov contended that we had attached too much importance to the recent agreement to exchange representatives between the Soviet and Italian Governments. He assured MacFarlane that this had not involved reopening diplomatic relations with Italy. The sole object was to ensure a closer liaison. Bogomolov stated that if the Russians had wanted to do any abnormal business with the Italian Government they would not have been so stupid as to exchange representatives. They had quite different and much more effective ways of carrying on that kind of business.
Bogomolov told MacFarlane at considerable length of the memorandum which the Soviet Government recently presented to the United States and British Governments. He explained the Soviet Government’s proposals for solving the political problem in Italy. It is MacFarlane’s understanding that the Soviet Government attaches little importance to whether the King remains or not and that it wishes the Badoglio Government to broaden its structure by including in the Government representatives of the opposition parties. Bogomolov spoke at length on the necessity of obtaining a Government which would be capable of producing more effective help to the Allied war effort. MacFarlane believes that the Russians intend to take a strong line with the parties of the Left in Italy and that they intend to insure that these parties do nothing which may dislocate the administration and thus upset the war effort.
Bogomolov frequently stressed the fact that in spite of the great differences between the Soviet and British ideologies and political structures and in spite of the inevitable occasional minor friction such as resulted from the recent exchange of representatives with Italy it was essential that the three Allied Governments should collaborate fully both for the present and for many years in the future.
He expressed the opinion that the Prime Minister’s recent remarks in the House18 about the Italian opposition had been politically most inept. He also expressed surprise that the United States Government was proposing to establish consular representation in Naples. MacFarlane reports that bit him heavily on both points.
[Page 1083]The interview concluded by Bogomolov inviting MacFarlane to dine with him to discuss in more intimate surroundings local politics and especially opposition personalities. [Reinhardt.]
- The speech of February 22, 1944.↩