661.6231/318: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:23 p.m.]
460. I have learned from a source which I regard as reliable that no part of the 2,500,000 tons of grains to be delivered by the Soviets to Germany under the trade agreement of January 11 [10], 1941 has as yet been delivered. My informant stated that although the agreement of January 11, 1941 provided specifically for the delivery of this quantity, it is understood that the prices were to be fixed at a later date by supplementary agreement. The prices offered by the Germans have been rejected by the Soviets as inadequate and my informant added that during the past few weeks the Soviets have been “dragging the negotiations out by asking an excessive price.”35
- On March 18, 1941, Ambassador Steinhardt reported in telegram No. 528 that agreement had been reached on the price for grain, and shipments were expected shortly (661.6231/320).↩