Cablegram 226 CANBERRA, 2 July 1942
SECRET
Please have the following message transmitted to the British
Ambassador, Kuibyshev. [1] Begins:-
Would be glad if you would communicate personally following
message to M. Molotov [2] from me:-
While in London in May you will recall I discussed with you and
your Ambassador in London the completion of an agreement in
principle for the exchange of diplomatic representatives between
the Soviet and the Commonwealth. You will recall in this
connection that you expressed yourself as personally favourable to
the agreement but desired the matter to wait until you could
obtain approval from M. Stalin. In our view the time has now come
for the announcement of an agreement in principle for exchange of
ministers following the example of Canada leaving the question of
appointment etc. to be determined later. I hope you will treat
this as an earnest of our desire for continuance of present
cordial relationships between our countries. It is many months
since we first suggested exchange and further delay would be a
matter for regret. I trust Your Excellency would be good enough to
regard this matter as one deserving of your early consideration.
[3] With kindest regards and best wishes.
EVATT
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1 The diplomatic community had been evacuated from Moscow to
Kuybyshev on the Volga River.
2 Soviet Foreign Minister. Evatt also sent a message in similar
terms to I. M. Maisky, Soviet Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
See cablegram 225 of 2 July on file AA: A981, Soviet Russia 44.
3 Molotov replied on 19 July that the Soviet Govt agreed in
principle to an exchange of diplomatic representatives but did not
want a public announcement until the names of the ministers had
been decided on. Evatt pressed for an immediate announcement, but
Molotov refused to agree. See cablegrams S66 of 23 July, SL44 of
24 July and S87 of 22 August on the file cited in note 2.
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[AA:A981, SOVIET RUSSIA 44]
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