611.6131/514: Telegram

The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kirk) to the Secretary of State

207. Department’s 116, July 28, 7 p.m. Am very glad to have the views of the Department as set forth in the telegram under reference. In view of the fact that I have now been assured that the Commissariat for Foreign Trade has completed its study of the Soviet proposals and that I may expect to be called to the Foreign Office at any moment in order to receive those proposals I am of the opinion that the above-mentioned observations of the Department [Page 610] may be more forcibly presented at the actual time when the proposals in question are submitted to me. In the event that those proposals include requests for concessions on our part for the benefit of Soviet imports to the United States I shall then communicate orally to the Foreign Office officials, including Litvinov, the Department’s views as outlined in the first paragraph of its telegram 116. If however I am not called to the Foreign Office today or tomorrow I shall seek an interview with Litvinov.

On every occasion available I have stressed the importance of the benefits accruing to Soviet trade under our trade agreements already concluded and in process of negotiation and have also pointed out that the Soviet Government would stand to lose the most if the commercial agreement in question should be allowed to lapse.

I might add that although the Foreign Office officials have repeatedly explained the delay of more than 6 weeks in replying to the informal representations regarding a renewal of the commercial agreement with the United States, during which time the Embassy has not even been asked for any additional data, by emphasizing the necessity for study on the part of the Soviet authorities dealing with foreign trade and have furthermore recently suggested additional possibilities on the basis of the preoccupation of the Soviet Government in regard to more important matters, it would appear that the conjecture need not be excluded that the authorities here have considered that the possibility of an acceptance on our part of the concessions which the Soviets may be hoping to obtain would at least not be jeopardized by creating a necessity of coming to some accord at the last moment and within a very limited period.

Kirk
  1. Telegram in two sections.