611.6131/592: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Thurston) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 5—10 a.m.]
961. Embassy’s telegram 954, August 2, 7 p.m. Dickerson was informed this morning by the Trade Agreements Section of the Commissariat for Foreign Trade that “the People’s Commissar although displeased had decided having in view the shortness of time to extend the agreement on the basis offered.” He was handed at the same time final draft notes consisting of the following documents: (1) a note from me to Mikoyan identical mutatis mutandis with that transcribed as draft (a) in the Embassy’s 937, July 31, 9 a.m.; (2) second note from me to Mikoyan inquiring in terms identical with those of the same inquiry made in 1939 as to the value of Soviet purchases to be made during the next 12 months; and (3) a letter from Mikoyan to me identical with that submitted to the Department in the Embassy’s 937, July 31, 9 a.m., as (c) as amended in its second paragraph to conform with the substitute paragraph transmitted in the Department’s 405, August 1, 5 p.m.
All the foregoing documents are dated August 5 and it was indicated to Dickerson that it was desired that signature take place at 2 o’clock this afternoon. The documents are to be signed in Russian and English duplicate sets. I assume in the absence of comment from you that you are agreeable to the Russian text being the official one with the English subsidiary.
The complementary letter from the Commissar to me which corresponds to (1) above was shown to Dickerson but not delivered to him. He read it, however, and it appeared to be identical mutatis mutandis with the note from me to him.
I have informed the Commissar that I cannot sign these documents in the absence of specific instructions but that I expect to have them from you before midnight tonight. He has replied that signature up to midnight tonight or even later will be agreeable to him.
Please send your instructions triple priority.