740.00119 EAC/8–1644: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 16—9:45 a.m.]
6591. Personal to the Secretary and for the President. Since receiving your 6366 of August 11 Gousev who is now Acting Chairman has not called a meeting as he is waiting on and expecting this weekend [Page 270] directives from Moscow that would permit consideration of the major military and political problems that are before the Commission in relation to Germany and Austria.
Therefore I decided yesterday I would approach both Strang and Gousev separately on the question of the President’s desire of informing the Chinese of the German surrender terms under the procedure and with the limitations outlined in your 6318 August 10.
Yesterday afternoon I talked with Strang with Eden sitting in. I knew that Strang would report immediately to Eden and felt I would rather state our wishes directly to Eden than have Strang relay them to him. Neither Strang nor Eden were disturbed by the President’s proposal but at once took the position that the French should also be notified on the ground that they were making a far larger contribution in defeating Germany than the Chinese. I simply told them that the President’s proposal did not include their suggestion. They both promised me they would keep my conversation with them to themselves so that I would have an opportunity to talk with Gousev and report back to Washington.
My conversation with Gousev was of quite a different order. He was deeply disturbed and told me he was certain that his Government would not understand and asked that before anything be done in this direction that our Government consult with his Government. All the facts that I stated in my message to Hopkins, of which Stettinius is informed, were brought up by him including the protest of his Government on an alleged British leakage of information at which time he was directed by his Government to protest to the Prime Minister, Mr. Eden, and his colleagues on the European Advisory Commission, and he added that information given to the Chinese on previous occasions had not only become known within Allied circles but also reached German sources. I have found Gousev a completely sincere and unafraid person and an unfailing friend in his personal efforts to support collaboration between our three Governments. He was not angry but was more deeply concerned about this proposal than on any subject that I have discussed with him since he came here. He told me that he felt the British would use it in their desire to influence some of the other Allied Governments and that such action was unalterably opposed by his Government.
Since neither the British Government nor the Soviet Government have as yet approved the unconditional surrender terms recommended by the European Advisory Commission wouldn’t it be possible to postpone action on this matter at least until such approval has been given by the other two Governments? I strongly recommend this. The next fortnight may bring about agreement on control machinery, basic proclamations any [and] orders, zones and areas of occupation [Page 271] in Germany and Austria and other matters that are essential to military planning by our armies in France.
References to Department’s 6254 August 8, my 6370 August 9, my message to Hopkins, and Department’s messages 6285 August 9, 6318 August 10 and 6366 August 11.