740.0011 European War 1939/12409: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:40 p.m.]
1198. The British Chargé d’Affaires has informed me that at his request he saw Vyshinski today and in the course of their conversation [Page 175] remarked that whatever either party might think of the situation42 England and the Soviet Union were now associated in a common cause, to which Vyshinski responded somewhat dryly “perhaps.”
Baggallay also stated to Vyshinski that in view of rumors to the effect that the Soviet Government might find it expedient to remove to some other city in the Soviet Union, he desired to state formally that in such an event the British Embassy would expect to be informed thereof and if necessary provided with adequate railway accommodations to enable it to accompany the Government. Vyshinski stated that he was not aware of the existence of such rumors but stated that of course if the Soviet Government should leave Moscow, [it] would take the action Baggallay had suggested.
- Germany had started war with the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941.↩