861.00 Congress, Communist International, VII/95: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 30—8:10 a.m.]
400. Your 207, 29th. Pravda, August 28, published following Tass communiqué:
“On the 25th of August the Ambassador of the United States of America in Moscow, Mr. W. Bullitt, handed the Acting People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs, Comrade N. N. Krestinski, a note in which he invited the attention of the Soviet Government to the activity of the Seventh Congress of the Communist International which took place at Moscow and, referring to the exchange of notes of November 16, 1933, between the People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs, Comrade M. M. Litvinov, and the President of the United States of America, Mr. Roosevelt, lodged a protest against this activity considered by the Government of the United States of America as a violation of the obligations of the Government of the U.S.S.R. concerning non-interference in the internal affairs of the United States of America.
On the 27th of August, Comrade Krestinski handed Mr. Bullitt a note in reply in which it is emphasized that the Government of the U.S.S.R. has always regarded, and continues to regard with the greatest respect, all obligations which it has taken upon itself, including the mutual obligation concerning non-interference in internal affairs. Considering that in the note of Mr. Bullitt there are contained no facts which would attest to a violation of its obligations on the part of the Soviet Government, Comrade Krestinski also points out that the Government of the U.S.S.R. cannot take upon itself, and has never taken upon itself, any obligations whatsoever in connection with the Communist International. Therefore, Comrade Krestinski declares that he cannot accept the protest of Mr. Bullitt, and is obliged to decline it.
In conclusion, Comrade Krestinski affirms the steadfast striving of the U.S.S.R. toward the further development of friendly collaboration between the U.S.S.R. and the United States of America, responding to the interests of the peoples of both countries and having a great significance for the cause of universal peace.”
No other references to exchange of notes have been published in Soviet press.