Moscow Embassy Files, Lot F–96

The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Hamilton) to the Soviet People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs (Molotov)

My Dear Mr. Molotov: I am setting forth herewith a secret and personal message of October 17 to Marshal Stalin from President Roosevelt which was received at midnight last night:

“Secret and personal to Marshal Stalin from President Roosevelt.

“In view of Mr. Molotov’s note to the United States Chargé d’Affaires of October 14, and in order that there may be no misunderstanding with regard to representation on the Political-Military Commission, I think I should make clear that, as indicated in my telegram to you of September 5,78 I feel that French representation should be restricted to matters other than the military occupation of Italy in which the three Governments establishing the Commission79 decide that France has a direct interest.

“I feel that in this regard French representation should correspond to that which I suggested in my message of October 1380 should be accorded to the Governments of China, Brazil, Greece and Yugoslavia, or to any other Governments which may by mutual agreement be invited to participate.

“It was never my intention that the French Committee of National Liberation should function on the same plane as the Governments of the Soviet Union, Great Britain and the United States or enter into its deliberation on all subjects.”

I would appreciate it if you would transmit this message to Marshal Stalin.81

Sincerely yours,

M[axwell] M. H[amilton]
  1. Post, p. 784.
  2. For correspondence regarding the establishment of the Political-Military Commission, see pp. 782 ff.
  3. See telegram No. 6368, October 13, 1 p.m., to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom, and footnote 41, p. 795.
  4. In a note to the Chargé dated October 18, 1943, Mr. Molotov acknowledged receipt of the letter and stated that he had delivered the message to Marshal Stalin.