711.94114 Supplies/3–645: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:20 p.m.]
649. ReDepts 419, February 24, 10 p.m. We were informed orally today by an officer of the American Section of the Foreign Office that a direct reply to the proposal regarding a second transfer of relief supplies at Nakhodka had not been received from the Japanese. The Foreign Office had however received an inquiry from the Japanese Embassy concerning the quantity of supplies presently in Vladivostok and expected to furnish this information in the near future. We were promised that every effort would be made to induce the Japanese to take prompt action on the proposal.
The Foreign Office has not replied to our request of January 22 that Soviet shipping agents in the United States be authorized to accept up to 2,000 tons of supplies for immediate forwarding to the Soviet Union, or to our subsequent note of February 20 stating that the shipment had been assembled. (ReDepts 128, January 20, 7 p.m. and 345, February 16, 3 p.m.) Apparently the Soviet authorities are reluctant to have the supplies go forward until the Japanese have definitely agreed to the second transfer at Nakhodka.