740.00114 European War 1939/1870: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Thurston) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 18—9:12 a.m.]
1936. Department’s 1199, November 17 [7], 10 p.m. I have addressed a third person note to the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs containing the substance of the first two paragraphs of the instruction under acknowledgement—that is to say only that part of the instruction which deals with the suggestion that the Soviet Government adhere to the Prisoners of War Convention and issue a statement that it intends immediately to agree to the provisions of the Convention, waiving the 6 months’ period stipulated in article 94, and proffering our services as a friendly intermediary for the delivery to the Swiss Government of such an act of adherence by the Soviet Government.
As it is to be presumed that no early reply to this note will be received, it is my intention to request an interview with Vyshinski54 later in the week at which time, in the event he should indicate a continuing reluctance on the part of the Soviet Government to adhere to [Page 1012] the Convention, I shall then suggest orally the adoption of one of the two additional procedures outlined by the Department.
In the meanwhile the Swedish Minister55 has informed me that he has received instructions very similar to my own and we have agreed that before I request an interview with Vyshinski he shall do so and make proposals along the same lines as those incorporated in the Department’s 1199 and in the same order of presentation.