800.51W89 U.S.S.R./231
Memorandum by the Acting Secretary of State
The gentlemen listed on the attached memorandum2 came in this afternoon to talk about the Soviet debts. They seemed to think that, now that Mr. Bullitt’s successor3 has been appointed, he is to be expected to initiate further negotiations with the Soviet authorities. I outlined to them what occurred in Moscow and here when the debts were discussed and explained the attitude of the Soviet Government in declining to agree to payment of any amount unless they could obtain a straight loan from us.4 I briefly indicated what liberal conditions we offered and that the representatives of the Soviet always gave as a reason for not settling with us, unless they could obtain a loan, that they would be brought into controversy with the British and French. I expressed the very definite opinion that nothing is to be gained by our Government approaching the Soviet Government on the subject.
The gentlemen wished to know whether the Department would object should they talk informally with the Soviet Ambassador here5 and suggest that he advise his Government to take up the debt question with our new ambassador and that I answered in the negative. They went away from my office, stating that they would see Mr. Kelley.
- Not printed. The participants listed were: J. Harry Covington; Milton C. Lightner, vice president, Singer Mfg. Co.; Allen W. Dulles, counsel, New York Life Assn.; Mr. Savage, counsel, Vacuum Oil Co.; John A. Kratz, International Harvester Co.; R. S. Hotchkiss, Parke, Davis & Co.; M. K. Robinson, assistant secretary, Eastman Kodak Co.; and Alexander Otis, of counsel for other claimants.↩
- Joseph E. Davies, Ambassador in the Soviet Union. William C. Bullitt was now Ambassador in France.↩
- For the failure of negotiations in regard to claims and credits, see pp. 166 ff.↩
- Alexander Antonovich Troyanovsky.↩