865.014/6–2747: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom ( Douglas ) to the Secretary of State
3549. Itcol 17 from Utter and Bagby. Reference Itcol 2.1 As we had heard nothing from the Soviets since the Ambassador’s call on Zaroubin [Page 591] we called on Saksin today. It turned out that he was in charge here during Zaroubin’s absence in Paris. (As far as we can find out, the latter has not yet made his proposed visit to Moscow.) We referred to the Ambassador’s and Bevin’s conversations with Zaroubin and explained that we were anxious to begin preliminary talks with the Soviets in order to save time when the Deputies actually met and so enable the commission to have more time in which to do its job thoroughly.
We added that we were having such talks with the British and had made similar overtures to the French. Saksin confessed that he was completely uninformed on the question and that he had not understood that any agreement had been reached between the Ambassador and Zaroubin about preliminary talks. He welcomed our visit, however, since it would enable him to learn more about the question.
We then showed him the Dept’s procedural paper and explained the various questions which would have to be decided before the commission could depart. Saksin showed considerable interest in the problems of the size of the commission and its itinerary and finally said that he would recommend to Moscow that one or more specialists be sent to London at the present time so that they could familiarize themselves with the problems involved and perhaps reach some preliminary understandings through bilateral talks. We took this occasion to suggest that it would be useful if Moscow could send the Soviet Commissioner designated for this purpose.
We were struck with Saksin’s cordiality and the frankness with which he confessed his ignorance and we suspect that the delays caused by the Russians in this instance are due more to their lack of understanding of the problem than to any ulterior motive.
Douglas
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Telegram 3185, Itcol 2, June 10, from London, read in part as follows:
↩“FonOff informed Embassy that [British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Ernest] Bevin will see Soviet Ambassador [Georgiy Nikolayevich] Zaroubin today to propose informal discussions and exchange of views between British and Soviets on subject of commission of investigation for Italian colonies preliminary to Deputies meeting. The Ambassador [Douglas], before leaving for weeks visit in Germany, called on Zaroubin this morning and made similar suggestions, explaining that Utter and Bagby are here [and] would welcome exploratory conversations on subject. Zaroubin promised to give matter favorable consideration and said that his Counsellor [of Embassy Georgiy Filippovich] Saksin would get in touch with Utter and Bagby. Similar overtures will be made to the French. Such bilateral conversations should expedite subsequent formal negotiations of Deputies.” (865.014/6–1047)