800.51W89 U.S.S.R./44: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union ( Bullitt ) to the Secretary of State

71. Your 64, May 1, 3 p.m. Was the basic disagreement touched upon in the President’s conversation with Troyanovsky? Did Troyanovsky indicate that Litvinov was prepared to negotiate on the basis of the Department’s draft agreement? If not, did the President state that he felt that Litvinov had agreed to negotiate on that basis? If Litvinov has agreed or will agree to our basis of negotiation I believe that we can work out details but until he does so I do not see how we can make progress here or in Washington. If Troyanovsky gave no indication that Litvinov will discuss the matter on the basis of the Department’s draft agreement I believe that it would be bad strategy for me to reopen the matter and feel that we should await a definite proposal by the Soviet Government.

Bullitt