811.61311/87: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 19—1:45 p.m.]
78. My 77, February 17, 3 p.m.9 I have just seen the People’s Commissar for Foreign Trade10 with Rosov, the head of Amtorg,11 present, and communicated to him the inquiry contained in the Department’s telegram No. 16, February 13, noon. The Commissar said that the Soviet Government had already purchased approximately 100,000 tons of wheat for the purpose mentioned, one half from the United States and the other from Australia, that it was not in actual need of more wheat but that it might be interested in the purchase of 200,000 additional tons provided favorable terms could be obtained as to price, credit, and interest. I told the Commissar that I had no information as to the nature of any possible transactions but that I would communicate the foregoing to the Department.