865.01/2257: Telegram
The Chargé at Algiers (Chapin) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:30 p.m.]
1024. From Reinhardt. 1. General MacFarlane saw Badoglio alone morning of March 25 half an hour before latter was due to see Bogomolov.
[Page 1081]The Marshal promised he would make no arrangements further with the Soviet Government without first consulting MacFarlane. Subsequently MacFarlane sent Badoglio a memo stating that Italian Government is not entitled to enter into any arrangement with any foreign power whether Allied or neutral without consent of Allied Commander which should be sought through Control Commission.
2. On March 26 Eeber saw Badoglio who said that Bogomolov had informed him that Soviet Government was appointing as its representative in Italy, Kostylev, at present senior member of Vyshinsky’s staff. It was not clear except to Badoglio what rank Kostylev would have but the impression was that Kostylev would subsequently be appointed Minister. At the same time Badoglio informed Bogomolov that Signor Quarroni, Italian Minister of Kabul, would be the Italian representative at Moscow. Bogomolov indicated that such an appointment would be acceptable to the Soviet Government. Badoglio said that announcement of the appointments would be made in the near future.
On the same occasion Bogomolov had proposed that the Italian Government release those Italians of Slav origin at present in the Italian Army in order that they might be incorporated into Tito’s Partisan forces. Badoglio said that he had replied that such a proposal would present extreme difficulties involving as it would the release to a foreign army of persons of Italian nationality. Badoglio assured Reber that he had made no commitments on the subject.
3. On March 26, Macmillan saw Bogomolov who gave him a similar account of his conversation with Badoglio except that he said Kostylev would have the rank of Counselor. Bogomolov endeavored to make the point that the Soviet action did not constitute establishment of normal diplomatic relations and added that a memorandum setting forth the Soviet point of view on this and other Italian questions had been delivered to the British and American Governments. Bogomolov stated that Vyshinsky would continue as Soviet member of the Council and that for the present he, Bogomolov, would serve as the former’s deputy.
Macmillan returned from Naples today. With reference the Department’s 890 of March 24, it is my understanding that at the Council meeting scheduled for Friday, March 31, in view of the adamant position taken by the Soviet Government in the face of Anglo-American representations in Moscow, Macmillan intends simply to inform the Council of the steps already taken vis-à-vis the Italian Government and does not intend to seek further clarification of the Soviet position from Bogomolov. [Reinhardt.]