611.6131/599: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union ( Thurston ) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 7—10:08 a.m.]
982. The signature of the exchange of notes extending the commercial agreement took place last night in an atmosphere of definite cordiality. Mikoyan was accompanied by six or seven of his associates and I by Dickerson and Armstrong,74 both of whom have been of great assistance. At the conclusion of the ceremony of signature Mikoyan served champagne and we conversed in an informal and friendly manner for some time and all this presumably was preliminary to the broaching again of the subject of the initiation of discussions regarding problems affecting the relations between the United States and the Soviet Union, as at the conclusion of the meeting Mikoyan emphasized that he hopes that these discussions will begin at an early date. I believe that he feels that having [yielded?] in the light of the Department’s wishes regarding the exclusion of this subject from the negotiations for the extension of the commercial agreement, in view of our statement that we are prepared to discuss it separately, something in the nature of a commitment has been made, and that it would be helpful if the Department would give an early indication of its intentions in this respect.
- Willis C. Armstrong, translator in the American Embassy at Moscow.↩