811.3361/8–2145: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:45 p.m.]
2987. Re Dept’s 1857, August 18, 1 p.m. I have discussed with General Deane and Admiral Maples Embassy’s 2596, July 17, 3 p.m., and we all feel that it would be unprofitable to lodge protest at this time. The Soviets have been particularly cooperative with our naval officers who have recently been stationed in Odessa and Novoroslik [Novorossiysk] and we have had no recent difficulties at Archangel. The trouble at Murmansk seems to have been caused by one man named Timoshenko representing foreign trade. Our ships are no longer going to Murmansk in any numbers and I dislike making a protest unless we have some way to back it up with action which would be of concrete disadvantage to the Soviet interests. Otherwise the only result would be a discourteous reply from the Foreign Office particularly as the exact facts on this case are hard to prove. In spite of the difficulties in the cases referred to the men involved departed with their ships.
Therefore, unless instructed otherwise I will take no further action.