Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume IV

701.0961/2–548: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Smith) to the Secretary of State

secret

Moscow, February 5, 1948—7 p. m.

222. Personal for Hickerson. Deptel 150, February 4.¹

As result of conference yesterday between Durbrow and Molochkov² believe there is still a fair chance we will get favorable decision on some at least of our customs demands. Molochkov pled for patience, and I think it wise to delay a little further before informing Molotov of decision to place representation on reciprocal basis in order not to prejudice favorable action in customs matter. Suggest we might wait as long as two or three more weeks, if you agree,³ before bringing it to a head.

Smith

1. Not printed; but see footnote 5, p. 797.
2. Fedor Fedorovich Molochkov, Chief of the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union.
3. The Department replied in telegram 162 to Moscow on February 6: “Leave to your discretion timing of representations to Molotov based on your estimate of situation.” (701.0961/2–548)