740.0011 Moscow/122a: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman)
1139. President at press conference yesterday said that he wished to discuss the Moscow conference, net result of which had been definitely good. He said that the thing that impressed him most about the conference was the spirit, which was amazingly good, and that Mr. Hull deserved a great deal of credit for that spirit. Russia and Great [Page 673] Britain, he added, deserved equal credit. He said the conferees had talked things out quietly and in 100 percent relationship between themselves. President stated that certain agreements had been reached and that documents embracing these agreements would be signed shortly. President pointed out that Moscow accomplishments refuted predictions of cynics who thought talks would be clouded with suspicion and would accomplish little.
Correspondent asked if success of Moscow conference brought nearer proposed conference between President, Stalin and Churchill. Mr. Roosevelt replied that he didn’t know any more about it than he did 2 weeks ago. Correspondent asked him if he could be more specific concerning the text of the agreements which were ready to be signed, and Mr. Roosevelt said that he thought that he better not elaborate because he didn’t want to cross any wires. He added that these agreements fitted in with the objective of unanimity not only in prosecution of war but in later transition period. He pointed out that conference was not concerned with question of what can be done with crossing of t’s and dotting of i’s but it was considering big things—objectives of peace and post-war world.
Correspondent asked if President could be more specific about just what those objectives were, and Mr. Roosevelt replied that the agenda of the conference concerned matters of general policy and he pointed out that if Mr. Hull was bound by his instructions and British and Russian delegates likewise, no progress would have been made. He said they had met and discussed and thrashed things out in a friendly spirit with complete give and take. President added ultimate objectives were peace in world and end of aggression.
President was asked if the statement on tremendous success of the Moscow conference had strengthened his belief of willingness of Russia to cooperate in maintaining peace. President replied that he would not put it that way because he always had been confident of Russian desire to maintain peace.