861.415/90: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 9—9:30 p.m.]
1875. The reception given by Mr. Molotov last evening on the occasion of the twenty-sixth anniversary of the Revolution29 was a brilliant [affair?] and was carried out on a scale comparable to or perhaps surpassing similar functions given before the war. There were approximately 500 guests among whom were most-members of the political high ranking army and navy officers and many outstanding Soviet personalities. All ranking officers of the Foreign Office were present in their new full dress uniforms. Few members of the Diplomatic Corps were able to comply with the Foreign Office suggestion that they wear full dress as there have been no formal functions here since the beginning of the war. Despite the ceremonial nature of the occasion there prevailed an atmosphere of friendly informality which was particularly noticeable so far as the British and ourselves were concerned. Although they were treated with politeness the isolation of the Japanese were very evident. The attitude of the Russians might be described by saying that they were in [Page 596] a jubilant mood over the successes of the Red army and that carrying out the spirit of the Moscow Conference they wished to include us in their celebration as friends.
- Anniversary messages were sent on November 6 by President Roosevelt to Kalinin, and by Acting Secretary of State Edward R. Stettinius, Jr., to Molotov, who acknowledged receipt on November 15; for texts, see Department of State Bulletin, November 6, 1943, p. 313, and ibid., November 20, 1943, p. 374, respectively.↩