741.61/902: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:25 p.m.]
1394. My 1393, October 23, 4 p.m. The refusal of Molotov to see the British Ambassador and his reception by Vyshinski lead me to believe that the Soviet Government at least for the time being has adopted a policy of having Molotov deal with the Axis Powers and Vyshinski with Great Britain. I regard this policy [as] due to a desire not to compromise Molotov in his relations with the German Ambassador and to avoid placing him in the position of conducting two contradictory and inconsistent conversations or negotiations. This view is supported by the fact that at the time the Soviet Government protested to the German Ambassador concerning the exclusion of the Soviet Union from the Danube Commission the protest was made by Vyshinski and not by Molotov.35 The foregoing view would also explain the difficulties which I am encountering in obtaining an interview with Molotov and the suggestion of his secretary that I should see Lozovski.