741.61/4–2547: Airgram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State
A–956. UK–USSR; Revision of Anglo-Soviet treaty.
UK FonOff official charged Soviet affairs in discussing present status current negotiations at Moscow for the revision of the Anglo-Soviet treaty (as of April 21) makes following observations: [Page 556]
- 1)
- With conclusion of CFM Conference, negotiations will continue with Ambass Peterson in charge for UK. Altho Bevin has been in Moscow, the Anglo-Soviet talks on treaty revision have been carried on between Peterson and Vishinsky, thus set-up and procedure will continue the same unless Molotov takes over from Vishinsky.
- 2)
- Both UK and USSR presented drafts of proposed treaty revision. Discussions so far have been largely on basis of the Soviet draft which contained several vague provisions (in usual Soviet fashion) which, if accepted, might later provoke differences in interpretation with resultant difficulties. FonOff has sought to avoid accepting any such provisions. Soviet draft likewise contained two main provisions to which UK objects, namely: (a) provision UK would go to war with any country which joined Germany in attack on USSR and (b) provision UK would not join in any bloc or action directly or indirectly aimed at USSR. Both these proposed provisions would run counter UK policy and might be productive of future difficulty. Under (a) UK prefers the Byrnes treaty or something more specific which would enable London to know just how far it was bound and under (b) intolerable intrusions and criticism by USSR of normal democratic actions might result.
- 3)
- UK so far has during talks stood off Soviet proposals which Vishinsky did not push very firmly. Present status of talks is that Soviet draft has been considered and not found acceptable by UK and UK draft (apparently Vishinsky had not studied this), slightly amended but still sticking close to Dunkirk Anglo-French treaty text, is now being studied by the Soviet side which will make the next move in contacting Brit Ambass when prepared to discuss it.1
Official seemed to feel talks were going slowly and was somewhat concerned that the Byrnes proposal upon which UK policy regarding Anglo-Soviet alliance is based was not acted upon at Moscow.2 He likewise stated UK leftists in Parliament and the press would not be likely to allow slowness in arriving at a revised treaty to go without caustic comment.
- The Chargé Lewis Clark, Counselor of Embassy at London, reported to the Department in telegram 4355 on August 12, 7 p. m., not printed, that British Assistant Under Secretary of State Warner had told him that the “Anglo-Soviet alliance was completely dormant at the moment.” Either side could re-open the subject, but the British “certainly had no intention of doing so for the time being.” Ambassador Peterson believed that it would not be brought up by Soviet officials. (741.61/8–1247)↩
- British Assistant Under Secretary of State Warner had told Ambassador Douglas, as he reported in telegram 2304 from London on April 18, 6 p. m., not printed, that the discussions on the four power treaty proposal at the Council of Foreign Ministers meetings in Moscow had proved “abortive”. (741.61/4–1847)↩