761.62/530: Telegram

The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Grummon) to the Secretary of State

359. My telegram No. 351, June 29, 11 a.m. The German Ambassador saw Molotov on June 28 and I am informed that the request for an appointment was granted almost immediately. The following information in regard to the Ambassador’s conversation with Molotov has been received in strict confidence:86 The Ambassador told Molotov that, following his visit to Berlin, he could assure him that Germany entertained no aggressive designs against the Soviet Union and in confirmation thereof pointed out that the German press had ceased entirely the publication of any anti-Soviet views or articles; that acquiescence in the Hungarian annexation of Ruthenia could be regarded as proof that Germany entertained no designs on the Ukraine and that furthermore the conclusion of non-aggression pacts with [Page 328] the Baltic countries87 was additional proof of the absence of any German intention to attack the Soviet Union. In respect of the non-aggression pacts with the Baltic States, Molotov remarked that these treaties were with third countries and not with the Soviet Union. The Ambassador thereupon inquired whether the Soviet Government desired a similar treaty with Germany. Molotov evaded the question. The Ambassador then remarked that the non-aggression treaty of 1926 between Germany and the Soviet Union was still in existence. To this Molotov replied that he was interested to hear the Ambassador say so inasmuch as the Soviet Government had had certain doubts as to the continued validity of that treaty in view of subsequent agreements entered into by the German Government. The Ambassador said that if Molotov referred to the German-Italian alliance88 he could assure him that this in no way affected the treaty. Molotov then stated that the denunciation of the non-aggression treaty with Poland89 had raised doubts as to the value of such treaties at the present time, to which the Ambassador replied that the situation in respect of Poland was somewhat different, in that the German Government felt that Poland by joining the “encirclement” policy of Great Britain had in fact contravened the non-aggression pact with Germany.

The subject of the new commercial negotiations was then discussed and Molotov informed the Ambassador that as he was not familiar with the details of the matter it would be better for the German Commercial Counselor to continue his discussions with Mikoyan. Upon departing, the Ambassador inquired whether he was correct in assuming that the Soviet Union desired normal relations with all countries which did not transgress Soviet interests and whether that was equally applicable to Germany. Molotov replied in the affirmative.

In discussing the above conversation, my informant stated that Molotov had again displayed an attitude of reserve in respect of German-Soviet relations but had manifested a certain interest in the possibility of a concrete offer of a political character from Germany; that, however, he had apparently abandoned his previous views that a political basis was a prerequisite of any improvement in commercial relations and that to this extent an element of progress could be noted. He, however, repeated the opinion previously advanced that the lack [Page 329] of clarity in German policy towards the Soviet Union undoubtedly tended to reinforce the existing Soviet suspicion in regard to the real motives and intentions of the German Government.

Grummon
  1. For an account of this interview, see telegram of June 29, from the German Ambassador in the Soviet Union to the German Foreign Office, Nazi-Soviet Relations, 1939–1941, p. 26.
  2. Treaties of nonaggression were concluded between Germany and Estonia and Latvia in Berlin on June 7, 1939; for texts, see German White Book, Documents on the Events Preceding the Outbreak of the War (New York, German Library of Information, 1940), doc. Nos. 346 and 347, pp. 367–369.
  3. Pact of friendship and military alliance signed on May 22, 1939; for text, see Department of State, Documents on German Foreign Policy, 1918–1945, Series D, vol. vi, doc. No. 426.
  4. For the German memorandum of April 28, 1939, denouncing the German-Polish peace declaration of nonaggression of January 26, 1934, see German White Book, doc. No. 213, p. 222. For text of the declaration of nonaggression, see ibid., doc. No. 37, p. 55