711.61/757: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:30 p.m.]
1307. Department’s 614, October 3, 2 p.m.12 I endeavored yesterday to make an appointment with Molotov to discuss with him the questions authorized in the Department’s telegram under reference. His secretary in reply to my request for an appointment stated that Molotov was so busy that he could not receive me at once and suggested that I see Lozovski, the Assistant Commissar for Foreign Affairs. His secretary was told that I would prefer to wait until Molotov could receive me as the questions which I had to discuss with him could best be discussed with him rather than Lozovski or any other official of the Commissariat for Foreign Affairs. I have as yet had no further word from Molotov. It is possible, especially in view of the British Ambassador’s conversation with him reported in my telegram No. 1293, October 5, 7 [6] p.m.,13 and particularly the rumors from London of American-Anglo-Soviet negotiations that the Soviet Government, being uncertain and apprehensive as to the future German policy resulting from the German-Japanese-Italian alliance,14 desires to avoid even the appearance of any negotiations with England and the United States pending the clarification of German intentions. Such clarification may be anticipated following the return of the German Ambassador, who is expected at the end of this week.
- Post, p. 388.↩
- Vol. i, p. 617.↩
- Signed at Berlin on September 27, 1940; for text, see League of Nations Treaty Series, vol. cciv, p. 387, or Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. ii, p. 165.↩