761.6215/5: Telegram
The Chargé in Germany (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:09 p.m.]
552. My 2339, December 14, 7 p.m.89 This morning’s Berlin papers announce that the mixed German-Russian commission for [Page 549] frontier questions has reported to the German and Russian Governments that the marking of the “German-Soviet frontier” was completed on February 27 along a distance of some 1500 kilometres, that 2,820 boundary posts were erected, and that the surveying of the frontier has been practically completed. The report mentions that in certain small sectors the task of surveying will be brought to a close shortly after the advent of the thaw and that in the meantime the mixed commission is working on the preparation of the necessary boundary documents.90
The reference in the above mentioned to the German-Russian “frontier” instead of the “frontier of interests” which has been the term hitherto employed has been remarked upon in local political circles.
- Not printed.↩
- The German-Soviet frontier agreement was finally signed at Moscow on January 10, 1941. In despatch No. 4060 of December 16, 1940, the Chargé in Germany reported that “German officials … have expressed great annoyance at what they termed the ‘petty attitude’ of the Soviet members of the Mixed Boundary Commission.” This attitude had caused months of delay. (761.6215/22)↩