Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, Eastern Europe, The Soviet Union, Volume VI

861.24/1–247: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Smith) to the Secretary of State

top secret

Moscow, January 2, 1947—5 p.m.
[Received January 2—8:56 a.m.]

6. I talked with Molotov on lend-lease settlement before receiving your 2198 on pipe line.⁵⁴ However he stated that he understood that this was proceeding satisfactorily. His general attitude toward lend-lease settlement was of course noncommittal as it is impossible for Soviet official, even of status of Molotov, to make direct decision in Moscow without other consultations. I presented the US point of view as vigorously as possible and followed my conversation with an aide-mémoire⁵⁵ confirming my discussion and asking for the earliest possible decision from Soviet Govt. I would hardly expect reply from Molotov before 2 weeks at best but I will follow up my aide-mémoire in about 10 days. We will be alert for any premature news break.⁵⁶

Smith

54. Not printed, but see footnote 53, p. 865.
55. Supra.
56. In reply the Department informed the Embassy in telegram 6, January 2, 7 p.m., that it proposed to tell the press on January 3 that the Embassy had taken up the question of a lend-lease settlement with the Soviet Government, and that no further announcements were contemplated before receipt of the Soviet reply. (861.24/1–247) Concerning the Department’s announcement, see New York Times, January 4, 1947, p. 5, col. 8.