760c.61/750: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 21—2:23 p.m.]
132. Following is text of communiqué just issued by the Foreign Office.28
“The foreign press is spreading rumors alleging that the Soviet Government has recently offered to Poland and Rumania its assistance in the event that they should become the victims of aggression. Tass is authorized to state that this is not in conformity with the facts. [Page 747] Neither Poland nor Rumania has appealed to the Soviet Government for help nor have they informed the latter of any danger threatening them. It is true only that on the 18th of this month the British Government informed the Soviet Government that they had serious grounds to fear violence against Rumania and inquired as to the possible position of the Soviet Government in such an eventuality. The Soviet Government in reply to this question advanced the proposal for the convocation of a conference of the representatives of the most interested states namely Great Britain, France, Poland, Rumania, Turkey and the U. S. S. R. Such a conference in the opinion of the Soviet Government would afford the greatest possibility for the clarification of the real situation and the determination of the position of all its participants. The British Government, however, found this proposal to be premature”.
- Text revised in accordance with translation enclosed in despatch No. 2238, April 1, 1939, from the Chargé in the Soviet Union (740.00/1039).↩