762.94/517: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt)
448. Your 722, April 9, 8 [11] p.m. The Department, while not viewing with favor establishment of precedents for such action, would have no objection to your giving, if you see fit, a memorandum covering the substance of the record of the conversation which you have in the Embassy.
Department offers suggestions as follows: (1) you might reply to Matsuoka that you would be ready to give him orally, should you have [Page 936] occasion to meet again, the substance of your recollection of the conversation; or (2) you might suggest that Matsuoka himself give you a written record of what he remembers himself to have said or what he intended to say, adding that you would be glad to communicate such record to your Government; or (3) you might offer to exchange records recording your respective recollections of what was said; or (4) if it would be helpful to you to do so, you might state, as on your own responsibility, that you make your reports with maximum possible of accuracy to your Government in confidence and that divulging of the contents thereof might easily lead to misunderstanding and would not be in conformity with sound practice, adding that you would be glad to supplement your report with any statement or statements that Matsuoka may care to make in amendment of or in substitution for what he said to you.
Department leaves the matter to your discretion.