793.94 Conference/134: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Davies) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 29—5:06 p.m.]
282. I have the honor to advise that in an extended luncheon with me alone Litvinov40 confirmed generally the attitude expressed in my telegram 280, October 29, 11 a.m., with reference to the Nine Power Pact Conference. He advised that the Soviet Government today received an invitation to the Conference; that he contemplated leaving Sunday together with Potemkin, Vice Commissar for Foreign Affairs; that he, Litvinov, would stay there at least for the opening sessions. He stated that the vital interests of the Soviet Government were less affected by the Far East situation than those either of Britain or of [Page 120] France in Indo-China; that he had little confidence in the outcome due to what he considered the weakness of the French and particularly the British attitude. He spoke enthusiastically of the “great moral effect of the President’s Chicago speech” but expressed doubt as to the United States being able to implement the purpose to bring about practical realistic justice to China. He stated that the English and French at Geneva “had hidden behind the United States” in that they held that they could do nothing unless they were assured of the active participation of the United States and that he suspected that in their representations to the United States they were “hiding behind” an alleged insecurity as to what the Soviet attitude would be. He stated further that the Soviet Union was prepared to take a strong position if it were in cooperation with the United States, France, and England; that the Soviet Union was seriously interested in the cessation of hostilities and in the establishment of peace and collective security and in the rehabilitation of respect for the sanctity of treaties as between nations. He hoped to establish close contact with the American delegation upon his arrival in Brussels.
As to the European situation generally, he was very pessimistic particularly as to Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia, which condition he attributed to the alleged weakness in the policy of France and England.
Not repeated to Brussels due to code used.
- Maxim Litvinov, Soviet Commissar for Foreign Affairs.↩