661.6231/294: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 1:28 p.m.]
1768. My 1759, December 21, 2 p.m.63 A member of the German Embassy has stated in confidence that while the economic negotiations with the Soviet Government have been completed and the agreement is ready for signature at the last moment a number of minor questions of a technical nature had arisen which had to be submitted to Berlin and for this reason the anticipated communiqué will be delayed until a reply is [received?]. He repeated his previous assertion that the agreement in the main would be a renewal of the February 11, 1940 agreement, but that the quantity of Soviet grain broken [taken?] would be considerably increased under the forthcoming agreement.64
Repeated to Berlin.