661.7131/8–1445: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received 1:11 p.m.]
2896. Embassy’s 2692, July 27.91 Answering Kennan’s letter of July 19 regarding exclusive character Soviet-Rumanian trade agreement Vyshinski stated in letter dated August 12, that pact in question does not limit commercial opportunities nor discriminate against other states. USSR has primary interest in development trade with Rumania, an immediate neighbor. Scarcely necessary to point out that Soviet-Rumanian trade relations cannot be regarded as hindrance to development trade relations between Rumania and other nations.
On Rumanian oil, agreement does not provide for special Soviet rights prejudicial to American interests. Kennan’s mention of American supplies of oil equipment to USSR (final sentence third paragraph Department’s 1621, July 16, 5 p.m.92) has no bearing on Rumanian oil problem. Obviously these supplies were produced for [Page 657] mutual advantage of Allies so as to create all conditions necessary to defeat Germany of Hitler.
To Dept as 2896, rptd. Bucharest as 108 and London 404.
- Not printed; it reported Soviet acknowledgement of receipt of a letter from the American Embassy delivered in accordance with Department’s instructions to make a strong presentation of U.S. views regarding the Soviet-Rumanian Cooperation Agreement of May 8, 1945, and also concerning possible Soviet-Rumanian oil arrangements (871.6363/7—1945). The Department’s instructions were given to Chargé Kennan in telegram 1621, July 16, to Moscow, printed in Conference of Berlin (Potsdam), vol. ii, p. 737; delivery of the letter was reported in Kennan’s telegram 2634, July 19, ibid., p. 741.↩
- See footnote 91, above.↩