800.00B/269
Memorandum by the Secretary of State
The Soviet Ambassador called to say goodbye before sailing on Monday87 for Moscow. He had no particular business. He expressed the fear that France was still suffering internal troubles that might be for some time yet a serious impediment to her in her relations with other nations, especially with Germany. He thought that no war was in sight during the summer.
I then referred generally to the importance of improving relations between our countries and between all of the important peace-loving countries. I said that I was not now making any special complaint but more of a suggestion and it was to the effect that if the Soviet officials could see their way clear to keep down all appearance of Moscow’s direction of Communistic movements in other nations, or her sponsorship or her enthusiastic approval of speeches delivered in Moscow by Americans, for example, thereby creating the impression, back in this country, that the Soviet Government is still specially concerned about the propagation of Communistic ideas and movements in other nations, it would be of tremendous help to us in advancing our cooperative relations. I elaborated somewhat on these phases. The Ambassador seemed also to be in accord so far as his efforts might go. He finally expressed the hope that when he returned in September he would bring better news than heretofore.
- June 20, 1938.↩