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

701.6100/19

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

No. 1339

Moscow, May 13, 1941.
[Received June 26.]

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a translation of a ukase⁵³ published in the Soviet press on May 10, 1941, establishing ranks for diplomatic representatives of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.⁵⁴

This would appear to be yet another step in the establishment by the Soviet Union of normal distinctions in rank. It will be recalled that the rank of general was restored in the Soviet army last year. A more recent indication of this development in Soviet practice was furnished by the note from the Commissariat for Foreign Affairs informing the Embassy of Stalin’s appointment as President of the Soviet of People’s Commissars. The note employed the designation “Mr. Stalin” in lieu of the customary “comrade”.

Respectfully yours,

Laurence A. Steinhardt

53. Not printed.
54. Hitherto a Soviet head of mission was called a Plenipotentiary Representative (Polpred, polnomochny predstavitel). By this ukase the ranks were to be Ambassador, or Minister Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, and Chargé d’Affaires. In a note of May 13, 1941, the Ambassador of the Soviet Union, Konstantin Alexandrovich Umansky, informed the Secretary of State of the changes in title; the note was acknowledged on May 23.