761.62/487: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union ( Kirk ) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 20—9:15 a.m.]
30. American press correspondents here have been informed by their London offices that reports are circulating that a secret meeting between German and Soviet officials is to take place in Stockholm or Copenhagen in the near future for the purpose of working out an economic and military collaboration between the two countries. In these reports mention is made of Hitler’s cordiality to the Soviet Ambassador57 at the reception inaugurating the new Chancery building in Berlin during which he is said to have requested the Soviet Ambassador to inform Stalin that Germany entertained no designs on the Ukraine at the present time and had proposed an exchange of views to which Stalin had agreed.
In reply to the inquiries from the correspondents the Soviet office has stated that it has no information on this subject. No confirmation or denial of these reports is available here. It is conceivable, however, they are connected with rumors which may have circulated abroad regarding the proposed German-Soviet commercial agreement (see my telegram 21, January 16, 2 p.m.).
Repeated to Berlin.
- Alexey Fedorovich Merekalov.↩