Office of the Historian

123 Davies, Joseph E./191: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Davies) to the Secretary of State

Moscow, June 6, 1938—1 p.m.
[Received June 6—9:20 a.m.]

143. Yesterday I made my farewell calls upon President Kalinin and Premier Molotov. While with Molotov, Stalin unexpectedly to my great surprise came in to the room and we had a friendly and informal discussion lasting more than 2 hours. Upon his initiative he took up battleship matter,51 also introduced a definite proposal in principle with regard to settlement of Kerensky debt to the United [Page 552] States Government.52 We also discussed world political problems and talked at length and concretely about the particular matter which was the subject of discussion between the President and myself last January.53 I also brought up Comintern.54 There are certain phases of the discussions which I am honorably obligated not to transmit except orally and then only to the President and the Secretary of State. Moreover it would be difficult to adequately report on some of the delicate situations by cable or despatch and therefore I have concluded that I should, if the President and the Department consider it advisable, proceed immediately to Washington55 to report on this situation orally and proceed thereafter immediately to Belgium. This would entail deferring my sick leave until after presentation of my credentials in Brussels. If I am called upon for a statement in connection with my return I shall say I am simply returning to the United States in normal course to receive instructions for my new post before going to Brussels. If this is approved kindly advise immediately so I can arrange sail June 15 on the Europa.

Davies
  1. For correspondence concerning the efforts of the Soviet Government to purchase warships in the United States, see pp. 670 ff.↩
  2. For failure of negotiations for a settlement of claims and credits, see pp. 166 ff.↩
  3. This concerned a prospect looking to the establishment of secret liaison for sharing military information regarding Japan and the Far Eastern situation in general. See numbered paragraphs (6)–(13) in the unnumbered despatch of January 17, 1939, from Ambassador Davies, at that time Ambassador in Belgium, p. 594.↩
  4. For the VII Congress of the Communist (Third) International and the United States protest of August 25, 1935, see pp. 218 ff.↩
  5. Ambassador Davies departed from the Soviet Union on June 10, 1938, and reached Washington on June 23.↩