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

701.6111/6–1548: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the Soviet Union

confidential

Washington, June 15, 1948—5 p. m.

672. Dept approves your proposed message to Molotov but questions personal presentation as suggested Embtel 1052, June 5.¹ If it became known you saw Molotov or if Soviets either officially or unofficially revealed you had seen him without disclosing subject conversation, information would be subject to misinterpretation and distortion which might prove embarrassing to Dept. It is therefore suggested that your Counselor² hand letter to highest FonOff official to whom he has access and explain reasons for step in manner you have outlined.

To avoid any misunderstanding regarding Sov personnel assigned to UN and other internatl organizations which Dept prefers not to mention specifically, suggest first sentence antepenultimate paragraph proposed message be modified as follows:

“… instructed to request that total number Sov personnel of all agencies of SovGov in US concerned with direct relations with Gov and people of US including diplomatic and consular staff and those attached to Amtorg, etc.”

We are concerned about timing³ in view recent announcement re Western Germany, adoption by Senate of Vandenberg resolution⁴ on aid to western union, and probable passage by Congress of military legislation. You should therefore postpone presentation message pending further exchange views which may be initiated either by you or by Dept when atmosphere appears more favorable.

Marshall

1. Not printed; but see footnote 1, p. 881.
2. Elbridge Durbrow was Counselor of Embassy in the Soviet Union, and at times Chargé.
3. After considerable study within the Department the final recommendation was made in a memorandum by John D. Hiekerson, the Director of the Office of European Affairs, on June 14 that Ambassador Smith be instructed “to delay presentation of the note pending a further exchange of views with the Department when the situation appears more favorable for such action.” (701.6111/6–1548)
4. Senate Resolution 239, sponsored by Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg, was passed on June 11, 1948; for text, see volume ii , under Western European Union. For its application to the development of regional and other collective arrangements among free nations for their self-defense consistent with the United Nations Charter, see ibid., pp. 1 ff., passim.