740.0011 European War 1939/21378: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Standley) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 3—5:15 p.m.]
355. For the President. The Soviet press reported on April 23, that during the Hopkins-Marshall visit to London97 problems of Soviet supply had been discussed. I have received no information regarding this aspect of the visit. I feel that it is important that I be kept fully informed of all matters pertaining to this country which become known to my Government.
In this respect I wish also to report that although the State Department advised me on April 14 of your message to Stalin98 through Litvinov expressing your regret at your inability to arrange a meeting with Stalin at the present time and suggesting the desirability of Molotov visiting Washington, I have had no further information regarding this matter.
While in Moscow I saw Stalin once and Molotov twice. Neither of them mentioned your message nor gave me any indication of the action which would be taken with respect to your invitation to Molotov. I, of course, did not mention the matter as when I was informed of your message I was told it was for my secret information and that it should not be discussed unless the subject was raised with me.
I feel that as a result of this situation the complete frankness which should have characterized this meeting with Stalin was lacking. Stalin and Molotov must have been surprised by my failure to mention such an important subject as your message and I was forced to the opinion that they refrained from bringing up the subject themselves simply because they presumed that I had not been taken fully into your confidence in the matter.