861.00 Congress, Communist International, VII/87: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 27—2:40 p.m.]
393. My 392, August 27, 5 p.m. The following is the text of the note handed to me by Krestinski this afternoon:
“Moscow, August 27, 1935.
Mr. Ambassador: By note of August 25th of this year you invited my attention to the activity of the [VII] Congress of the Communist International which took place at Moscow, and referring to the note of the People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs, Litvinov, to the President of the United States of America, Mr. Roosevelt, under date of November 16th, 1933, protested against this activity, considered by your Government as a violation of the obligations of the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics concerning non-interference in the internal affairs of the United States provided for in the note of November 16th, 1933.
In connection therewith, I consider it necessary to emphasize with all firmness that the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics has always regarded and still regards with the greatest respect all obligations which it has taken upon itself, including naturally the mutual obligation concerning non-interference in internal affairs, provided for in the exchange of notes of November 16, 1933, and discussed in detail in the conversations between the President of the United States of America, Mr. Roosevelt, and the People’s Commissar, Litvinov.
There are contained no facts of any kind in your note of August 25th which could be considered as a violation on the part of the Soviet Government of its obligations.
On the other hand it is certainly not new to the Government of the United States that the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics cannot take upon itself and has not taken upon itself obligations of any kind with regard to the Communist International.
Hence the assertion concerning the violation by the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics of the obligations contained in [Page 253] the note of November 16, 1933, does not emanate from obligations accepted by both sides, in consequence of which I cannot accept your protest and am obliged to decline it.
The Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, sincerely sharing the opinion of the Government of the United States of America that strict mutual non-interference in internal affairs is an essential prerequisite for the maintenance of friendly relations between our countries, and steadfastly carrying out this policy in practice, declares that it has as its aim the further development of friendly collaboration between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America, responding to the interests of the people of the Soviet Union and the United States of America and possessing such great importance for the cause of universal peace.
Taking advantage of the occasion, I invite you to accept the assurances of my high esteem.
(Signed) N. Krestinski.”