740.0011 European War 1939/20045: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Matthews) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 9—5:45 p.m.]
1116. Department’s telegram 982, March 6, midnight,62 and my telegram 1095, March 7, midnight. I inquired this afternoon of Richard Law, Parliamentary Under Secretary at the Foreign Office, with regard to Sir Stafford Cripps’ remarks. He confirmed to me that Cripps at the meeting in question had advocated recognition by [Page 531] Great Britain of the Soviet frontiers as they existed on June 22, 1941. He said that Cripps had taken the line that the Russians would consider this “the acid test” of British intentions and that Stalin on the basis of these claims would make up his mind whether the Atlantic Charter is to be used against him. He said that Cripps had used arguments in favor of accepting the Russian claims similar to those which Mr. Eden had recently cabled Lord Halifax (and which presumably the British Ambassador has conveyed to the White House and to the Department in his conversations on the subject). In reply to my question he said that Cripps believes that these claims mark the limit of Stalin’s territorial ambitions and will not be followed by new and wider demands.
Cripps likewise is convinced that failure to meet the Russian claims for recognition of their earlier frontiers may well result in a complete reversal of Stalin’s attitude toward the war. Law added that while at first the Russians had expressed understanding of the British need to consult the United States, they are now growing increasingly suspicious at the length of the delay. They are well aware, he said, how similar claims constituted the principal obstacle to the 1939 negotiations and they fear that the British are going to turn them down now. (I recall that in private conversation several weeks ago Law himself expressed some doubts as to the wisdom or “morality” of accepting the Russian territorial claims. I gain the impression today that he now favors their acceptance and his evolution in this direction seems significant.)
He showed some little embarrassment in discussing Cripps’ private remarks to members of the House [of Commons] because, he said, they had been made in a secret meeting.
I asked him how sentiment was in the House and he replied that while he had not sounded it directly he felt that it was on the whole favorable though much support for meeting Stalin’s wishes came from unexpected quarters and the political color of the Opposition was likewise surprising. As for the country, he feels that agreement with Russia would be highly acceptable. (Please compare Cadogan’s views, my telegram 1058, March 5, 11 p.m.).