Foreign Relations of the United States, The Soviet Union, 1933–1939

800.51W89 U.S.S.R./94: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State

Moscow, August 4, 1934—5 p.m.
[Received 5:28 p.m.]

245. Litvinov informed me today that he would leave Moscow in a few days for a holiday which would last until the meeting of the Disarmament Conference in Geneva.⁵¹ He added that Henderson⁵² had informed him that he intended to call that meeting before September 15. Litvinov asserted that he might go either to the Caucasus or to some European spot.

Stalin is about to leave for a cure in the Caucasus and I fear that decisions with regard to our debts and claims cannot be expected until their return to Moscow in September. Litvinov again stated that he had ordered Troyanovsky to ask for a written proposal from the Secretary of State.

I venture to suggest the fullest possible discussion with Troyanovsky before replying to this request. I suspect that Litvinov will use any written document for the purpose of bargaining with other countries.

Bullitt

51. For correspondence concerning the Disarmament Conference, see Foreign Relations, 1934, vol. i, pp. 1 ff.
52. Arthur Henderson.