741.61/905: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:44 p.m.]
1433. My 1393, October 23, 4 p.m. The British Ambassador informed me today that Vyshinski had asked him to come to the Foreign Office on Saturday37 and had stated that the proposals submitted by the British Government were “fundamental” and regarded by the Soviet Government as of such importance that it wished to have two of the British proposals clarified. The first point as to which Vyshinski desired clarification related to the proposed agreement by the British Government to consult the Soviet Government at the end of the war, qualified however, by a paragraph to the effect that such consultation would not mean that the British Government would consider itself bound a priori to accept the point of view of the Soviet Government. The second point as to which Vyshinski desired clarification related to the proposed undertaking by the British Government not to enter at the end of the war into any anti-Soviet agreement with other countries and apparently arose from difficulties in translation. At this point the Ambassador showed me the original draft which contains the provisions as outlined in my telegram under reference with an additional paragraph whereunder the British Government proposes to give de facto recognition to the Soviet acquisition of the three Baltic States, Eastern Poland, Bessarabia and Bukowina pending the consultations provided for at the end of the war. In examining the text of the proposals with Cripps he invited my attention to the paragraph concerning which Vyshinski had asked clarification and stated that he had opposed the inclusion thereof as meaningless and legalistic, since, as he pointed out, an agreement to consult does not obligate or even imply acceptance in advance of the point of view of the other power but that his Foreign Office had insisted thereon. He remarked that it was just such a legalistic and distrustful attitude that he had attempted to avoid in dealing with the Soviet Government at the present time. The Ambassador continued [Page 624] that he felt he had satisfactorily explained any ambiguity concerning the two proposals but that nonetheless Vyshinski had specifically requested him to submit the Soviet inquiries to the British Government and obtain a clarification from the Foreign Office by telegram. Cripps expressed to me his opinion that the insistence on confirmation from the British Government was due to the Soviet belief that the proposals as submitted represented Cripps’ personal desiderata and to a desire to avoid any possibility that the British Government might assert at some time in the future that Cripps had exceeded his instructions. He said this impression was supported by Vyshinski’s statement when he handed him the original document that the Soviet Government was aware that the Ambassador had long sought an agreement of this character. In conclusion the Ambassador stated that he was not at all clear as to whether the Soviet request for clarification was merely a device to gain time, or whether it indicated a favorable attitude toward the proposals but he felt that in any event and whatever the outcome they were receiving real consideration. He added that he had informed Vyshinski that at the present time the British Government recognizes that the Soviet Government is in no position to take any step which would even appear to be incompatible with its agreements with Germany but believes it possible to establish an understanding with the Soviet Government which could perhaps be made effective at some time in the future.
- October 26.↩