Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, Europe, Volume IV

462.11 E.W., International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation/9–1345: Telegram

The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kennan) to the Secretary of State

Moscow, September 13, 1945—8 p.m.
[Received September 13—8 p.m.]

3266. Department’s 1995, September 11. Removal of and denial of access to American properties in Czechoslovakia.

Referring to Ambassador Harriman’s August 25 letter on same subject⁷¹ made written representation to Vyshinski⁷² today in conformity with instructions referred to above.

I am afraid, however, that this step which is essentially a repetition on a lower level of representations recently made by Ambassador Harriman and thus far apparently not heeded by the Soviet authorities, will appear here to be rather an indication of weakness in our position than of determination on our part to press the matter firmly.

To Department as 3266, repeated to Praha 30, Vienna 14.

Kennan

71. Telegram 3064, August 26, from Moscow, reported that a letter had been sent to the Soviet Foreign Commissariat on the subject of removals of property of the International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation from Czechoslovakia; the telegram expressed the expectation that no early Soviet reaction to the letter could be expected except acceleration of the planned removals (360F.115 International Telephone and Telegraph Corp./8–2645).
72. Audrey Yanuaryevich Vyshinsky, Assistant People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union.