121.861/1a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
3476. From Harriman.76 The President has designated me to head the forthcoming Mission to Moscow. In addition the Mission will be composed of one Army officer, one Navy officer and one Air officer together with one civilian familiar with supply questions both as to munitions and war materials, making a total of five persons. We shall be accompanied by a small secretarial staff of about the same number. I am suggesting (1) that our meetings in Moscow should open about October 1 and (2) that we should have one clear week in London beforehand to arrive at a common understanding with the British.
Will you please convey the above information to the appropriate British authorities with the utmost secrecy and let me hear from you as urgently as possible not only any comment they desire to make but also what plans the British have in contemplation.
In your reply I prefer if possible that for reasons of secrecy you do not mention the suggested date. [Harriman.]
- W. Averell Harriman, Special Representative of the President, and Chairman of the President’s Special Mission to the Soviet Union with the rank of Ambassador.↩