Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1941, General, The Soviet Union, Volume I

861.00 Supreme Soviet/44: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State

Moscow, May 7, 1941—noon.
[Received 12:45 p.m.]

922. The press this morning publishes without comment three ukases of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the U. S. S. R., dated May 6, of which the following are the full texts.

(1) “In view of the repeated declarations by Comrade V. M. Molotov that it is difficult for him to fulfill the duties of President of the Soviet of People’s Commissars of the U. S. S. R., with the fulfillment of the duties of People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs, the request of Comrade V. M. Molotov that he be released from the post of President of the Soviet of People’s Commissars of the U. S. S. R., is granted.

(2) Comrade Josif Vissarionovich Stalin is appointed President of the Soviet of People’s Commissars of the U. S. S. R.

(3) Comrade Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Molotov, the People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs, is appointed as Assistant President of the Soviet of People’s Commissars of the U. S. S. R.”

The foregoing will be the subject of a subsequent telegram.⁴²

Steinhardt

42. Telegram No. 934, May 8, 6 p.m., p. 615.