811.3361/24
The Secretary of State to the Secretary of the Navy (Denby)
Sir: I have the honor to enclose for your confidential information a copy of a communication received directly from Moscow under date of January 31, signed Litvinoff,13 relating to the visit of American warships to ports under control of the Soviet authorities. The Department does not contemplate making any reply to this telegram.
With regard to the call of destroyers at the port of Batum, the Department considers that it is desirable that such calls should be discontinued and the High Commissioner at Constantinople is being informed of this view. The Department has added that in case a serious situation should arise affecting the work of the Near East Relief in the Caucasus or the safety of American citizens in that area, which, in the opinion of the High Commissioner, would justify any modification of this policy, he should report to the Department.
The Department would appreciate it if the Navy Department should see fit to send instructions to Admiral Bristol with regard to the discontinuing of further calls of destroyers under his command at the port of Batum.
I have [etc.]
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