740.0011 European War 1939/13605: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union ( Steinhardt ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9 p.m.]
1431. For the President, the Secretary, and Under Secretary. The reception accorded Harry Hopkins by the Soviet Government and the unusual attention which has been devoted to him by the Soviet press clearly indicate that extreme importance has been attached to his visit by this Government. He was met at the port of entry by a number of high ranking army and naval officials and by the Acting Chief of Protocol who flew with him to Moscow where an unusually large delegation headed by Lozovski62 had been assembled to await his arrival. He was received promptly by Stalin who granted him very extended interviews and discussed with a frankness unparalleled in my knowledge in recent Soviet history the subject of his mission and the Soviet position. All Soviet newspapers have published photographs and items concerning his visit on their front pages—a position of much greater significance here than in any other country.
I am certain that the visit63 has been extremely gratifying to the Soviet Government and that it will prove to have exercised a most beneficial effect upon Soviet-American relations in general and in particular to have greatly encouraged the Soviet war effort.