800.51W89 U.S.S.R./30: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union ( Bullitt ) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 8—8:30 p.m.]
45. Supplementing my 43, April 8, 7 p.m., Umansky, chief of Foreign Office Press Department, called in American correspondents this afternoon and gave lengthy prepared statement on subject of Johnson bill and Soviet-American relations. It contained so many phrases used to me by Litvinov that I believed it was dictated by the latter. Umansky refused to allow quotation or attribution to any official Soviet source. New York Times and Herald Tribune will carry story.
If Department approves course suggested in my 43, April 8, 7 p.m., think it well to refuse comment on this trial balloon.