800.51W89 U.S.S.R./62: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 24—8:28 p.m.]
104. Your 91, May 23, 4 p.m. I understand that it is the opinion of the Attorney General that the type of credit offered by General Motors to the Soviet Government is not forbidden by the Johnson bill therefore I cannot see how our Government can forbid or discourage such a transaction. If we should warn General Motors that Litvinov had agreed to pay extra interest on all such credits Litvinov would deny the statement promptly and a public controversy might result, the domestic political consequences of which I am in no position to judge.
I assume from paragraph 2 of your 91 that you desire me to make no further moves but to await tranquilly further proposals by the Soviet Government.