BAS                                              London
This telegram must be
closely paraphrased be-                      Dated July 15, 1942
fore being communicated
to anyone.  (MC)                              Rec'd 9:20 a.m.
 
Secretary of State,
 
     Washington.
 
     TRIPLE PRIORITY
 
     3908, July 15, 2 p.m.
 
     PERSONAL AND FOR THE PRESIDENT
 
     Maisky just came in to see me.  He told me he had
 
had a conference with the Prime Minister and Admiral
 
Pound last night.  Pound explained to him the losses 
 
suffered by the northern convoy and said he was
 
opposed to continuing shipments over the northern
 
route to Russia at this time.  Maisky said he objected
 
vigorously to this decision and was told by the Prime
 
Minister and Pound that since many of our ships were
 
involved the final decision would rest with us.
 
     Maisky further told me that both he and his naval
 
adviser do not feel that the last convoy was adequately 
 
protected or skillfully handled.  Maisky was critical
 
of Pound as an aggressive naval officer.
 
     Maisky stated that he felt, at this time when
 
Russia was under the greatest pressure and no apparent
 
effort was being made here to establish a second
 
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