740.00114 European War 1939/1981: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Thurston) to the Secretary of State
Kuibyshev (Moscow), December
16, 1941—2 p.m.
[Received 10:36 p.m.]
[Received 10:36 p.m.]
2064. Department’s 1271, December 9, 10 p.m.
- 1.
- In view of American-German hostilities please instruct whether I am to continue negotiations with respect to the Prisoners of War Convention.
- 2.
- On December 9, I inquired of Vyshinski whether he was prepared to reply to the suggestion mentioned in the last paragraph of the Embassy’s 1977, November 26, 11 a.m. To my surprise, he answered that he had disposed of that suggestion at our last interview by pointing out that it would involve acceptance of article 9. I stated that I had understood that he had agreed that this difficulty might be overcome by some revision of phraseology. Although Vyshinski would not admit that he had so agreed, he again promised to lay the suggestion before his Government and inform me of its suggestion [decision?].
- 3.
- I anticipate that the suggestion will be rejected and that the final alternative suggestion (penultimate paragraph of the Department’s 1199, November 7, 10 p.m.), which I would then present should the Department desire to continue these negotiations, would also be rejected.
Thurston