Roosevelt Papers: Telegram

Marshal Stalin to President Roosevelt 1

Personal and secret message from Premier I. V. Stalin to President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

1. Only now, having come back from the front, I can answer your message of July 16th.2 I have no doubt that you take into account our military position and will understand the delay of the answer.

Contrary to our expectations, the Germans launched their offensive not in June, but in July, and now the battles are in full swing. As it is known, the Soviet Armies repelled the July offensive, recaptured Orel and Belgorod and now is putting the further pressure upon the enemy.

It is easy to understand that under the present acute situation at the Soviet-German front, a great strain and utmost vigilance against the enemy actions are required from the Command of the Soviet [Page 18] troops. In connection with the above, I have at the present time to put aside other questions and my other duties, but the primary duty—the direction of action at the front. I have frequently to go to the different parts of the front and to submit all the rest to the interests of the front.

I hope that under such circumstances you will fully understand that at the present time I cannot go on a long journey and shall not be able, unfortunately, during this summer and autumn to keep my promise given to you through Mr. Davi[e]s.

I regret it very much, but, as you know, circumstances are sometimes more powerful than people who are compelled to submit to them.

I consider that a meeting of the responsible representatives of the two countries would positively be expedient. Under the present military situation, it could be arranged either in Astrakhan or in Archangel. Should this proposal be inconvenient for you personally, in that case, you may send to one of the above-mentioned points your responsible and fully trusted person. If this proposal is accepted by you, then we shall have to determine a number of questions which are to be discussed and the drafts of proposals which are to be accepted at the meeting. As I have already told Mr. Davi[e]s, I do not have any objections to the presence of Mr. Churchil[l] at this meeting in order that the meeting of the representatives of the two countries would become the meeting of the representatives of the three countries. I still follow this point of view on the condition that you will not have any objections to this.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

August 8th, 1943.

  1. Apparently sent via the Soviet Embassy, Washington. The entire document is printed in Stalin’s Correspondence, vol. ii, p. 78.
  2. Message sent from Washington, July 15, 1943, ante, p. 16.