The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-11-17
NATIONS TO RESUME
NORMAL RELATIONS
AFTERLONC BREACH
White House Announcement
Says Countries viii Ex.
change Ambassadors
DECISION WAS EXPECTED
Previous indications Had Been
That Definite Announces
ment Was in Prospect

washington, Nov. l7.-(F-Pfesi-
dent Roosevelt announced late Friday
the United States has agreed to re-
sumo normal relations with Russia
and will exchange ambassadors.
ms on sBM 9u3u9ounouuv OUT.
prise to newspaper and diplomatic
circles as everything had pointed to
a quick decision on means Of healing
the breach which has existed between
the nations for Is years.
Leaving the White House earlier in
the day after conference with Pres
ioent Roosevelt, Maxim Litvinoff.
Soviet foreign commissar. had ex-
pressed the opinion there would be
q statement later In the day.
First Break In Silence
It was the first time since arrival
Of the foreign commissar that he has
answered questions by newspapermen,
and his attitude was q further In
dication that the climax Of the nego-
lions between himself and the presi-
dent was close at hand.
Litvinoff, added however, that any
announcement was to come from
Roosevelt. This Is expected before the
chief executive leaves for Warm
Springs, Ga. Friday.
Ltvinoff said he had made no
plans to 60 to Warm Springs and that
he did not intend to leave Washing
ton, Immediately, as he has some
business here"
The commissar conferred with the
president at the White House in the
forenoon for more than IN hour and
also talked to, William G. Bullitt, the
state departments Russian expert.
Held Night Conference
! A conference which broke up ct /
o'clock Friday morning brought the
president and the Soviet commissar
into mutual agreement on the prob
lens involved.
litvinoff went to the executive
mansion at 10 o'clock to attend q
musicale given after q dinner to the
cabinet. An hour later, he with.
drew to Roosevelt's study and spent
two hours In conference with the
president, Secretary Woodin Of the
treasury. Henry Morgenthau. Jr.. who
Friday becomes Undersecretary Of the
treasury. Undersecretary william Phil
lips Of the state department and VIII
liam Bullitt. the state departments
Russian expert.
Litvinoff departed from the night
meeting without comment. Asked II
q announcement on Rurro-American
relations was coming Friday, Woodin
smiled and said wait and see."
Russ Records Examined
While the White House meeting was
on Thursday night. three army trucks
were being loaded few blocks away
with records stored in the old Russian
embassy. With Litvinoff's approval.
they were removed to a downtown
government building for examination
by American and Soviet officials.
A formula for handling the debt
question presented major diff
Guilty In the Roosevelt-Litvinoff con-
versations. The Soviet had refused
to recognize any obligation because Of
loans to the Kerensky government.
American loans amounted to 1857 00O.-
600, but accumulated interest since
pushed the total over $300,OOO,000
The Soviet government, however,
indicated a willingness to talk about
debt claims. Those filed against
Russia by United States nationals
amount to about $400. 900 900 and in
clude about $S6, 100000 Of old Czarist
flotations.
Russia, for her part, has an UNI
totaled claim against the United
States for the Archangel and Vladiv-
ostock expeditions.
Understandings reached by Roose-
welt and Litvinoff were believed 70
cover such issues as propaganda. re-
ligious worship and trade relations.