800.147/5: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Standley) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 24—2:37 a.m.]
330. The British Ambassador has given me a copy of a telegram received from his Government outlining proposals in regard to the provision of living accommodations and recreational facilities for British and American seamen in north Russian ports and issuing him instructions to take the question up with the Soviet Government. The telegram states in part that the British Government hoped on the basis of recommendations received from Harriman that the American Government would have been able to send simultaneous and parallel instructions to the American Ambassador in Moscow but that it is informed that although the War Shipping Administration had approved the proposed representations in principle, consultations proceeding with the State Department and other American bodies were not likely to be concluded for some time and instructions could not yet be issued to the Ambassador. Feeling that the matter could no longer be postponed the British Ambassador was instructed to bring the question to the Soviet Government and to seek any support I might feel justified to give him at this juncture.
The British Ambassador discussed the question with Molotov on August 19 and left with him a memorandum containing the British proposals. In my interview with Molotov on August 21 I took occasion to bring up the question of the American seamen in northern Russia and stated that I had already discussed this matter with Vyshinski and wished to support in principle the British Ambassador’s representations in this regard. Molotov stated that the Soviet Government considered it one of its duties to care for the British and American seamen in question and would do everything possible on their behalf.
I would appreciate receiving any information available to the Department on this subject as well as definite instructions to be followed in this respect.
[Page 633]I also informed Molotov of our desire to have discontinued the special gratuities referred to in the Department’s 384, August 4, 4 p.m., and will take the matter up formally and in more detail with Vyshinski upon my return next week to Kuibyshev.