840. 48 Refugees/4096: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Standley)
1039. We have just observed that the word “now” in the final sentence of the second paragraph of the proposed joint declaration relating to the repatriation of refugees, as embodied in our 662 of August 7, 6 p.m., could be interpreted so as to limit the number of refugees affected to those displaced at the date of issuance of the declaration. Please therefore request the Soviet authorities, to whom you have presented the draft for consideration, to delete the word from the draft.
We doubt the advisability of pressing the Soviet authorities at this moment for their agreement to the declaration but we would appreciate the receipt of a statement from them to be obtained later by you at a more opportune time, as to the Soviet Government’s acceptance of the declaration.
Foregoing repeated to London80 for the information of the British Government.
- As telegram No. 6549, October 20, midnight.↩