Evening star., 1944-03-18
|Badog|io Recognition
By Reds Seen Topic
OF Stettinius Talks
BY the Associated Press.

is hit hnStSIabru TItkk.
Russia's single-handed recognition
|of the Badoglio regime in Italy
raised a question in Washington
diplomatic quarters today as tt
whether the U. S. S. R. is deliberate
ly avoiding consultation with the
United States and Britain on Eu-
ropean political issues.
That question and Anglo-Amer
can policy on the French Commit
tee of National Liberation appear
likely to form major topics of dis.
cussion when Undersecretary O.
State Stettinius goes to London ir
la few days for conversations with
British officials.
President Roosevelt told his press
conference yesterday he had reached
q decision on the French situation
which covers presumably the degree
OF recognition this Government is
willing to extend to the French
committee as the future governine
group of areas of metropolitan
France liberated by Allied invasion
Indicates Study of Decision.
The President said his decision
could not be disclosed for obvious
reasons, but indicated it Is beine
studied by the War and State De-
partments as we'll as by the British
who are reported as willing to rec
ognize the committee as the "de
facto" government for all France
while the United States is under
stood to prefer a more limited rec
ognition until the French people
themselves have an opportunity to
choose their own government.
The question of Russia's relations
with the rest of the United Nations
was brought into sharp focus by
Secretary of State Hull's disclosure
at a press conference yesterday that
the United States had not been ad-
vised in advance Of the Moscow in
tention to exchange diplomats with
Premier Badoglio.
The United States and Britain
have persistently refused to do this
and have followed the policy of
emphasizing the temporary nature
OF the Badoglio government, which
is to be supported by the Allies only
until after the capture Of Rome.
Disregarded Council.
What appeared particularly irk-
some to officials here was the fact
that Russia completely disregarded
the Anglo-American- Russian Ad-
visory Council for Italy, which was
created at the Moscow conference of
foreign ministers last fall to handle
just such matters.
In regard to Mr.. Stettinius' trim
to London, Secretary Hull last night
issued statement saying the talks
would be informal and inconclusive
but would be completely wide open
as to subject matter. The Secretary
said:
"At my request the Undersecre-
tary will 60 to London soon with q
small group for discussions with
members of the British government.
Foreign Secretary Eden and other
high officials of the British Gov
ernment have made several trips to
this country for a general exchange
Of views during the past two years
and 1t has not been possible for me
to return them. Mr.. Stettinius is
going to London to repay their
visits"
E Others to Go on Trip.
Those who will accompany Mr.
Stettinius include H. Freeman Mat
thews, deputy director of the Off1ce
OF European Affairs, and DR.. Isaiah
Bowman, president of Johns Hop
kins University and a noted geog-
rapher.
At Mr.. Roosevelt's press confer
ence yesterday reporter asked why
DR.. Bowman was making the trip
Because he knows more about
geography than everybody in this
room put together. the President
replied.
Does that mean territorial ques-
tions will be discussed?" asked an
other reporter.
No, Mr.. Roosevelt said. They
might talk about bananas, and, If
they did, DR.. Bowman would know
where they grow.