800.51W89 U.S.S.R./28: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Bullitt)
36. Your 43, 44 and 45. Since you were present at all conversations with Litvinov in Washington you are perhaps in better position than anyone else to understand how perfectly indefensible is his present attitude. Approve your idea of refraining from any further suggestion for time being unless it is invited by Litvinov and you can be confident there will be no negotiations here with Troyanovsky or public statements about debt agreement of which you are not previously notified. You are wise to delay considering question of establishing consulates, even a consulate at Leningrad. Confidentially you may think it desirable to intimate in your own way to Litvinov that [Page 83] if the understanding had while he was here is to be repudiated it may not be worth while to provide any consulates or proceed in certain other respects. S. A. Trone dropped in while the above was being written and expressed great apprehension that failure of contemplated trade with Soviet will furnish encouragement to Japan. It would seem that Litvinov should appreciate the necessity of doing everything possible to retain the advantage he obtained by recognition and the prospect of active trade.