611.6131/561: Telegram

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

419. Department’s telegram No. 110, August 1, 7 p.m., paragraph 2. Information was requested in the memorandum which I presented to Potemkin on July 3rd as to the value of the orders which were placed in the United States by Soviet organizations during the agreement year 1937–38 and from August 6, 1938 up to July 3rd as well as the value of the orders which were expected to be placed during the remaining period of the validity of the present agreement. The same information was again requested in the course of conversations which I had with Mishustin on July 29. He seemed reluctant to furnish the information but finally consented to endeavor to obtain it. He has just informed me however that he is unfortunately unable to furnish such data since he alleges that they do not exist. Although it was pointed out to him that the principal exchange of notes related to orders placed by the Soviet Union in the United States and not [Page 832] to exports from the United States to the Soviet Union he nevertheless suggested that the public announcement in premises be based either on such United States or Soviet customs statistics as are available. He added that Soviet customs statistics covering the full year 1938 would be published within 2 or 3 weeks. Since the data desired is not available does the Department desire me to substitute some other comment for the last sentence of paragraph 2 of section 3 of the Department’s telegram under reference?

According to Soviet foreign trade statistics as reported in my telegram 400, July 22nd, Soviet exports to the United States during the first 11 months of 1939 amounting to 15.4 million dollars and imports therefrom to 58.7 million dollars.

The Commissar for Foreign Trade of the Soviet Union, A. I. Mikoyan, will sign the Soviet notes. The Commissariat has informed me that he will sign “A. Mikoyan.”

Grummon