740.00114 Pacific War/193: Telegram

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

280. Reference Department’s 205, April 17, 7 p.m., to Kuibyshev regarding shipment via Soviet territory of relief supplies for prisoners of war and civilian internees in Japanese hands. Department is informed by British Embassy that British Government has expressed certain views on this subject to its Ambassador75 and instructed him to call on you. It is also understood that the Canadian Government has communicated with its Minister76 in the same connection. Please have in mind in your conversations with those officials and for guidance in your approach to the Soviet authorities (1) in any arrangement which may be obtained with the Soviet and Japanese Governments for the shipment of relief supplies, this Government would of course invite the British, Canadian and other Allied Governments to participate therein for the benefit of their nationals in Japanese hands, (2) the Department’s 205 purposely avoided suggestion of a route through Soviet territory for the passage of the supplies and any mention of quantity so as to avoid a negative reply on a single proposal and to leave the question open for the Soviet Government to make some offer, and (3) it would seem to Department to be injudicious for the British and Canadian representatives likewise to approach the Soviet Government on the matter, since such action might be interpreted by that Government as concerted.

Hull
  1. Sir Archibald Clark Kerr.
  2. L. Dana Wilgress.