800.51W89 U.S.S.R./153: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Wiley) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:20 a.m.]
397. Troyanovsky leaves today via Vladivostok. He expects to reach Honolulu by January 1st. He will acquaint Ambassador Grew with his plans when he books passage. Skvirsky expects to proceed direct to the United States in about a fortnight.
I lunched with Troyanovsky yesterday. He is much perturbed over a recent despatch to the Chicago Daily News which he states entirely misrepresents remarks made by him November 14 at the Old Bolsheviks Club. He complained in particular that his references to the President were entirely distorted. He would be very grateful if the President could be so informed.
[Page 165]Troyanovsky informed me that since his arrival here the question of a settlement of debts and claims with the United States has become progressively more difficult. There have been “suggestions” from other countries of credits on terms more favorable than offered by the American Government. He suspected that these “suggestions” might not be entirely sincere and that possibly they were being made chiefly to thwart the negotiations with the United States. I have encountered the same suspicion in other Soviet authorities (see my telegram No. 396, November 22, 3 p.m.). It is apparently widely entertained.
Troyanovsky indicated that France in particular was bringing heavy pressure to bear to prevent further developments of Soviet relations with the United States and that also England and Germany were manifesting an interest in the matter which was disquieting. Troyanovsky spent last evening with Stalin viewing a Soviet film in the Kremlin. He insisted that Stalin’s sentiments toward the President and the United States were most friendly; that it was desired to conclude a financial settlement with the United States and with no other country and that though the situation was most difficult “a way must be found”.
This morning’s press announces that Marchandeau will leave for Moscow on December 1st.