741.61/909: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:32 p.m.]
1601. A member of the British Embassy has stated in confidence that the recent call of the British Ambassador on Vyshinski had not dealt with the general subject of the British proposals (reported in my No. 1393, October 23, 4 p.m.) but had been primarily for the purpose of informing the Soviet Government that the Baltic ships which heretofore had been considered as under sequestration had now been requisitioned by the British Government and consequently would be available for use by the British authorities. My informant further stated that although in conformity with Halifax’s statement in the House of Lords on November 2143 concerning the British proposals to the Soviet Union, these proposals would not be withdrawn, [Page 631] it was very doubtful if any reply other than perhaps mere acknowledgement would be received from the Soviet Government. With reference to Halifax’s statement in the House of Lords, it is of interest that no reference thereto has thus far appeared in the Soviet press.
- Parliamentary Debates, House of Lords, 5th series, vol. 118, col. 24.↩