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

701.6111/1098

Memorandum by the Adviser on Political Relations (Dunn) to the Under Secretary of State (Welles)

[Washington,] July 26, 1941.

Mr. Welles: With reference to the Soviet Ambassador’s request for our agreement to the transfer of the Naval Attaché in Tokyo to Washington, Captain Kirk, Director of Naval Intelligence, just telephoned me to say that it is the decision of the Chief of Naval Operations⁴⁰ that until the Soviet authorities in Moscow notify our Ambassador there of the acceptance of our request for the appointment of a Naval Attaché at Moscow we will not accept the appointment of an additional Soviet Naval Attaché in Washington.

Captain Kirk said that the Soviets already have a Naval Attaché⁴¹ here in Washington and have thus far not definitely agreed to permit us to send a Naval Attaché to Moscow.

Several days ago we sent Ambassador Steinhardt an urgent telegram⁴² requesting a definite agreement from the appropriate Soviet authorities there to the appointment of American Naval Attachés in Moscow. No reply has yet been received.

James Clement Dunn

40. Adm. Harold R. Stark.
41. Comdr. Nikolay A. Skriagin, Assistant Naval Attaché.
42. Not printed.