740.0011 European War 1939/22877½: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Standley) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:02 p.m.]
201. For the President and Secretary. The emphasis in the Soviet press upon the reported agreement to create a second front in Europe in 1942, as the repeated references thereto made to myself and members of my staff by Soviet citizens in all walks of life in my opinion are sequences of Molotov’s visit which must be taken into serious consideration. During the recent session of the Supreme Soviet many references were made by leading deputies to “the complete agreement reached by Molotov in relation to the urgent task of creating a second front in Europe in 1942”, to “the determination of the great democratic powers to open a second front in the immediate future” and to the “hope that the time is not distant when the great powers will turn from words and agreement to action”. Furthermore, in my recent conversation with Molotov, the foreign Minister referred to the discussions in London and Washington relative to a second front and the alleged agreements reached thereon as the most important result of his journey and made it a point to attach more significance to the second front covenant than to the British treaty or the American agreement. In view of the manner in which the Soviet Government and people have accepted what would appear here to be a solemn obligation on the part of the United States and Great Britain to create a second front in 1942, I feel convinced that if such a front does not materialize quickly and on a large scale, these people will be so deluded in their belief in our sincerity of purpose and will for concerted action that inestimable harm will be done to the cause of the United Nations.