861.014/215: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Thurston) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 3—8:48 a.m.]
956. Pravda this morning publishes laws approved by the Supreme Soviet of the U. S. S. R. last night concerning the incorporation of the northern part of Bukovina and the Khotin, Akkerman and Izmail uezds80 of Bessarabia into the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic [Page 497] and concerning the organization of the constituent Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic, consisting of a part of the former Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic81 and the balance of Bessarabia. Full geographical details will be submitted by despatch.82 No indication has as yet been given concerning the disposition of the portion of the former Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic not incorporated by the present law into the new constituent Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic but it seems logical to presume that this will be reincorporated into the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.83
- An administrative subdivision common in tsarist Russia which disappeared after 1922 in most parts of the Soviet Union, although the six uyezds of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic remained until 1947.↩
- Created in 1924 as a part of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic as an expression of the Soviet claim to Bessarabia and for propaganda usefulness.↩
- Despatch No. 1057, January 8, 1941, not printed.↩
- By ukaz (decree) of August 13, 1940, of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, eight rayons (districts) of the former Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic were incorporated into the Odessa oblast (region) of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. See also despatch No. 726, September 4, 1940, from the Chargé in the Soviet Union, vol. iii, p. 216, regarding the law of August 7, 1940, adopted by the Supreme Council of the Soviet Union making changes in the constitution in consequence of the admission of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic into the Soviet Union.↩