811.20 Defense (M)/216: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Murphy) to the Secretary of State
[Received 3:46 p.m.]
322. Department’s 266, August 9, 4 p.m.36 Russian Chargé d’Affaires has now returned from Paris and advises me that he has not received any instructions from his Government to indicate that the Soviet Government has changed its attitude in respect to the wolfram and antimony forming part of the Selenga cargo. He understands that the Soviet Government purchased these ores from the Chinese Government fully 4 months ago and that the Soviet Union has never relinquished its title thereto. He said that he would telegraph his Government immediately to ascertain whether any change in this situation had occurred.
Arnal, economic director at the Foreign Office, states that the French attitude remains unchanged, namely, in the absence of an indication from the Soviet Union to the effect that it relinquishes claim the French Government feels obliged to restore the ores to a Soviet bottom.
[Page 660]Please telegraph whether Oumansky37 has given any indication in this respect.