740.00119 European War 1939/1620: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Standley) to the Secretary of State 1
u.s. urgent
1216. Personal and secret for the Secretary.
Your 749, August 26, 7 p.m., my 1201, August 27, 5 p.m.2
The British Ambassador3 has received a note from Molotov dated August 27 which reads in paraphrased translation as follows:
“The Soviet Government has acquainted itself with the Italian surrender terms4 which have been approved by the American and British Governments as transmitted by Ambassador Kerr and Ambassador Standley on August 26.
The Soviet Government approves the terms in question. It empowers General Eisenhower to sign the terms in the negotiations with Castellano on behalf of the Soviet Government.
In the present instance, it is the opinion of the Soviet Government that a special representative of the Soviet Union is not required when the Italian terms of surrender are signed by General Eisenhower.”
- At Hull’s request the body of this message, beginning “The British Ambassador”, was sent by the White House Map Boom to Roosevelt, who was then at Hyde Park, in telegram No. White 148, August 29, 1943.↩
- Neither printed herein. For texts, see Foreign Relations, 1943, vol. ii, pp. 356–357.↩
- Sir Archibald Clark Kerr.↩
- i.e., the “long” or “comprehensive” terms. See ante, p. 1161.↩