740.0011 European War 1939/23631: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Standley) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:15 p.m.]
314. Reference Embassy’s 313, August 19, 2 p.m.30 Generally speaking, the articles [in the Soviet press] were lacking in enthusiasm, especially when compared with those appearing upon the return [Page 627] of Molotov in June. Although reference was made to the Soviet armies withstanding the onslaught of the German military machine, thus enabling the Allies to gather strength and to prepare the resistance necessary for the destruction of Hitlerism, and to the unified determination to prosecute the war with all force and energy, no direct mention was made of the second front, insofar as the negotiations were concerned. There were numerous allusions, however, that such a front would not only be welcome but also could effectively be established in view of the favorable military conditions in western Europe. Parenthetically, the advantageous conditions for the creation of a second front in Europe in 1942, especially insofar as the French coast is concerned, have been favorite themes of the Soviet press during recent weeks.31
The Embassy cannot help but feel that the communiqué, together with the Soviet press comments and interpretations thereon will cause real disappointment to the Soviet public which has hoped for and counted upon the creation of the second front in Europe in 1942 and now finds no reference to it in the press releases on the Churchill visit. At the same time, however, the foreign news section of the Soviet press continues to carry articles from England and the United States describing the demands of the masses for the creation of a second front now.