Evening star., 1933-11-17
L|TV|NOFF EXPECTS
STATEMENT TODAY
ON RECOGNITION
Answers Reporters Ques-
.tionS for First Time Since
His Arrival.
SEES PRESIDENT AGAIN
AND TALKS WITH BULLITT
Plans to Remain Here After Roose-
velt's Departure to Wind Up
"Some Business.
ny the Associated Press.

ny the Associated Press
Emerging from the White House after
q conference with President Roosevelt,
Maxim Ltvinoff told reporters he
Thought there would be a statement
today" on recognition of the Soviet
by this Government after 16 years of
abnormal relations
1t was the first time since arrival
Of the foreign commissar that he has
answered questions by newspaper men.
and his attitude was further indica-
tion the climax of the negotiations be-
tween himself and the President was
close at hand.
Litvinof added. however. that any
announcement was to come from Mr.
Roosevelt This is expected bofore the
Chief Executive leaves for Warm
Springs, Ga, today.
Litvinof said he had made no plans
to go to Warm Springs but that he did
not intend to leave Washington imme-
diately, as he has some business here"
The commissar conferred with the
President at the White House In the
forenoon for more than an hour and
also talked to William C. Bullitt, the
State Departments Russian expert.
Major Issues Settled.
After 10 days of conferences and COM
promises, general understanding ex-
listed on major issues which for 16
kou okx ,of
A conference which broke up at !
o'clock this morning brought the Pres
ident and the Soviet conmissar into
mutual agreement on the problems in
volyed.
Litvinof went to the Executive Man
sion at 10 pm. to attend a musicale
given after q dinner to the cabinet.
An hour later be withdrew TO M.
Roosevelt's study and spent two hours
in conference with the President, Sec
retary Woodin OF the Treasury. Henry
Morgenthau 1r= who tnday necomns-'
secretary william Phillips Of the State
Department and Bullitt.
Records Trucked Away.
Litvinoh departed without comment.
Asked II an announcement on Russo
American relations was coming today,
Woodin smiled and said wait and see"
While the White House meeting was
on three Army trucks were being loaded
few blocks away with records stored
IN the old Russian embassy. With Lit
vinoff's approval they we're removed to
Q downtown Government building for
examination by American and Soviet
officials.
Secrecy and a heavy police guard
surrounded the move. None of the In
terested parties would disclose the exact
nature OF the records trucked away. 1t
was considered likely they dealt with
debts of the Kerensky regime.
Part OF the mystery was cleared up
today, when Undersecretary Phillips ex-
pl.ined the Government for three
months has had custody of the old
Russian headquarters.
The last Russian Ambassador, Boris
Baknmetef, was named by the Keren-
sky Government and retired In 1922.
Afterward Serge Ughet. the financial
ettache, remained on in custody of the
property.
Papers Necessary In Talks.
Several months ago, Phillips ex-
planned, Ughet informed the Depart-
ment of State he would be unable to
continue as custodian and turned over
to the Government the embassy and
ats furnishings.
Phillips said it developed there were
filed In the embassy documents neces-
sary, in the discussions with Maxim
Lityinoff on Russo-American relations.
So both Litvinoff and State Depart
ment officials could have easy access
to these files, Philips said they were
removed to Government Building and
laid out where they can easily be
studied.
A formula for handling the debt ques-
ton presented a major difficulty In the
Roosevelt -Lityinoff conversations. The
Soviet had refused to recognize any
obligation because of loans to the Ker-
ensky government. American loans
amounted to S187 900 900, but acepmu-
lated interest since pushed the total
over $3o0,000.000.
The Soviet government, however, in
dicated willingness TO talk about debts
claims. Those filed against Russia by
United States nationals amount to
about s40O,00O,oo0 and include about
$86 ,000, 900 OF old Czarist fiotations.
Russia, for her part, has an untotaled
claim against the United States for the
Archangel and VladivoStock expeditions.
Understandings reached by Mr.. Roose-
welt and Litvinof were believed to cover
such issues as propaganda, religious
worship and trade relations.
In connection with trade, observers
placed emphasis on the resignation OF
Harry F. Payer as Assistant Secretary
of State to become special counsel on
foreign trade TO the Reconstruction
Finance Corporation. Payer is stu
dent of Soviet commercial activities.
Secretary Wallace, however, said yes
terday he personally disapproved a
long-term loan to Russia for the pur-
chase Of American agricultural COM
nnodities II the United States retained
its high tariff walls.
Arms Tangle Reviewed.
TWO other subjects reported to have
been reviewed by Mr.. Roosevelt and
Litvinof were the world disarmament
tangle and the Russo-Japanese situa-
ton Lityinof has a long record as a
disarmament advocate and the Far
Eastern problem Is OF vital Importance
TO his government.
The negotiations had extended be-
yond the time Lityinof expected when
he arrived November Z. President
Roosevelf's insistence upon thorough
exploration Of all questions was the au-
thoritatiye explanation for the exten-
sion.
Immediately upon his arrival, Lit
vinof paid Mr.. Roosevelt ceremonial
call and the next morning settled down
70 work with Secretary Hull and State
Department experts. State Department
negotiations continued until Saturday.
when both sides began to work sep
Aratsly.
Mr.. Roosevelt supervised all discus
sions. He and Litvinof spent tdozer