840.70/10–544: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:06 a.m.]
3793. ReEmbs 3556, September 18, 3 p.m. I have received a letter from Vyshinski dated October 1 informing me that he now finds it possible to state the point of view of the Soviet Government regarding the proposed European Inland Transport Organization. The Soviet Government considers the creation of such an organization timely and desirable, but believes it should not be an operational organization as suggested in the Anglo-American draft agreement but an organization exercising consultative and coordinating functions during the closing stages of the war and the early post-war period. Its duties would thus include coordinating the employment of all types of transport to the best advantage in terminating the war, bringing about the restoration of normal conditions of economic life and assisting the Allied Commanders-in-Chief during the war and the occupation authorities after the war in maintaining the required transport capacity.
With the letter there was enclosed a copy of a revised draft agreement which the Russian Delegation will submit at the London Conference. I am informed that the Soviet Delegation left Moscow September 28 and is now probably in London. Unless instructed to the contrary I shall not telegraph the Russian draft since I assume the Department will receive it from our representatives at the Conference.