862.20290H/11: Telegram
The Minister in Afghanistan (Engert) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 14—6:52 a.m.]
119. Since my 117, June 8, 1 p.m., the Soviet Ambassador has had his talk with the Prime Minister in the course of which expressly asked for the arrest of a number of persons whom the British and Russian Governments believe to be conspiring against the Soviet authorities [Page 43] in Russian Turkestan. He also advised that the German and Italian Legations be reduced to a Minister and Secretary each. According to the Ambassador the interview took place in a friendly atmosphere and the Prime Minister promised to see what could be done.
I gather from my British colleague that as in 1941 the British Government intends to keep the initiative and that for the present there seems to be no danger that the Russians will go further than the British wants them to go. So far their representations have been on parallel lines and they have agreed not to call on each other for support unless absolutely necessary.