800.515/7–1945: Telegram

No. 985
The Chargé in the Soviet Union ( Kennan ) to the Acting Secretary of State 1

secret

2628. 1. Embassy has prepared in collaboration with Rubin and transmitted note to Foreign Office in accordance with instructions given Depts 1629, July 17.2 Substance of note refers to previous communication addressed to Soviets on June 183 and to lack of answer thereto, and states that in view of reported action of Soviets in Ankara and Stockholm, as reported in Depts reference telegram, and in view of general urgency of matter US Govt has had to assume that Soviets have no objection to action described in letter of June 18. Note repeats statement of necessity for action to prevent dissipation and concealment of German assets, states that similar steps have already been taken with respect to German official properties in Spain, and states US Govt in collaboration with British will shortly present démarche to Spanish.

Sent Dept 2628; rptd London 371, Paris 243, Frankfort for Pauley, Harriman and Clayton 23.

2. Rubin and DuBois have been instructed by Pauley to proceed to Berlin and plan to depart July 20 and to take with them copy of Embassy’s note. Immediately following airgram4 contains text of note.

[Page 953]

3. Would be helpful to Embassy if Dept would indicate exact nature of representations made by Soviets in Stockholm and Ankara as well as whether it is planned immediately to make démarche to Spanish whether French will participate and other details.

4. British here appear to have received no instructions.

Kennan
  1. The same message was sent directly to the Office of the Political Adviser at Frankfurt for transmittal to the United States Delegation at Babelsberg.
  2. Document No. 982.
  3. See vol. i, document No. 382, footnote 1.
  4. Document No. 997.