Foreign Relations of the United States, The Soviet Union, 1933–1939

300.115(39) City of Flint/96

Memorandum by the Assistant Chief of the Division of European Affairs (Henderson)

[Washington,] October 26, 1939.

I handed the original of the attached memorandum to Mr. Chuvakhin, the Soviet Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, this afternoon at 4:30. In handing it to him I pointed out that it should be considered as a memorandum outlining certain statements which I wanted to make to him.

After I explained to Mr. Chuvakhin the contents of the memorandum, he stated that he would communicate immediately with his Government. He expressed some surprise at the fact that our Government was not fully satisfied with the cooperation that this Embassy was receiving from Soviet officials since he had gained the impression from reading the press that Mr. Molotov and Mr. Potemkin were taking a personal interest in the matter.

I replied that nevertheless the Embassy had thus far not been able to ascertain facts relating to the detention and condition of the vessel and crew, which must be well known to the Soviet authorities. Furthermore, apparently the captain and the crew had not been permitted to get into direct communication with the Embassy.

I asked Mr. Chuvakhin if he had any information from his Government regarding the case and he replied that he had no information other than that furnished by Tass and published in the American press.

[Annex]

Memorandum by the Assistant Chief of the Division of European Affairs (Henderson) to the Chargé of the Soviet Union (Chuvakhin)

[Washington,] October 26, 1939.

Mr. Henderson stated that he had been requested by the Secretary of State to point out to Mr. Chuvakhin that the American Government was somewhat disappointed that the Soviet authorities had not shown that degree of cooperation with the American Embassy at Moscow which this Government felt that that Embassy had a right to expect in connection with its efforts to ascertain without loss of time all the facts relating to the detention of the American vessel City of Flint and its crew.

The American Government considered the matter of the detention of the vessel and crew important, and it would be appreciated by the Department if Mr. Chuvakhin would find it possible to convey to his Government the hope of the American Government that the appropriate Soviet authorities would lend full assistance and cooperation to the American Embassy at Moscow in connection with the latter’s efforts to effect a speedy and satisfactory settlement of the case.