Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, The Conference of Berlin (The Potsdam Conference), 1945, Volume I

881.00/6–2145: Telegram

No. 656
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)

secret

Washington, June 25, 1945—6 p.m.

5145. The Department is inclined to believe that failure on the part of Great Britain and France to invite the USSR to participate in Tangier conversations can be justified by the fact that the Soviet Government has never demonstrated any interest in the Tangier Zone. (Urtel 6270, June 21, 6 p.m.¹) It has never maintained a representative of any kind in Tangier and has never taken any step which would indicate that it considers itself to be a party to the Treaty of Algeciras even though the Russian Imperial Government was a party to that Treaty. The Government of the United States, on the other hand, while not a party to the 1923 Statute has constantly maintained representation in Tangier, has continued to exercise its capitulatory rights, and has made it clear that it bases its interest in Tangier on the Algeciras Treaty.

Grew
L[oy] W H[enderson]

1. Not printed.