701.6162/33: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 24—1:05 p.m.]
1604. My 1603, November 24, 3 p.m.56 The appointment of Dekanosov,57 who accompanied Molotov to Berlin, to the post of Ambassador to Germany is presumably the result of the visit to Berlin and probably indicates a desire on the part of the Soviet Government to have a more vigorous Ambassador in Berlin and one who may more authoritatively reflect the views of the Kremlin. Dekanosov, prior to his appointment as Assistant Commissar for Foreign Affairs in [Page 588] June 1939 was as reported in despatch Number 2449, July 6, 1939,58 Commissar of Internal Affairs of the Georgian Republic, a position in the Soviet Union which could not be occupied by anyone not enjoying the special confidence of Stalin. Insofar as this appointment has any significance apart from the obvious implication of dissatisfaction with the work of the previous Ambassador it would appear to strengthen the diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Repeated to Berlin.
- Not printed.↩
- Vladimir Georgevich Dekanozov left for Berlin on November 26. He was received by Ribbentrop on December 12; he did not present his letter of credence to Hitler until December 19, a delay which caused comment in diplomatic circles in Berlin. At the same time, Dekanozov retained his position as Assistant People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union.↩
- Foreign Relations, The Soviet Union, 1933–1939, p. 770.↩