761.62/783: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:38 p.m.]
1518. My 1512, November 9, 5 p.m.48 The following information concerning the background of Molotov’s visit to Berlin was received in [Page 575] strict confidence from the source previously disclosed to the Department. The informant in question has accompanied the German Ambassador to Berlin with Molotov. He stated that although the outcome of Molotov’s visit to Berlin could not be predicted in view of the importance of the consultations which would take place, no prior political agreement had been reached by the Soviet and German Governments and no program of the specific questions to be discussed in Berlin had been arranged. My informant was quite specific on this point. He stated, however, that without question the entire range of Soviet-German relations, both political and economic and questions relating thereto, would be discussed but that it was not now contemplated that any new political agreement would be signed and announced during Molotov’s visit to Berlin. He stated that the visit was of course of great importance in that it indicated a decision in principle by the Soviet Government and was designed to emphasize Soviet-German friendship, as well as to lay the foundations for closer collaboration, both political and economic. In respect of economic matters, he stated that although Molotov would only remain in Berlin for 2 days, it was possible but not certain that the economic experts who accompanied him would remain there for some time. Concluding, my informant emphasized that the outcome of the conversations in Berlin would depend on the conversations themselves and that no prior agreement in the political field has been reached.
- Not printed.↩