500.CC/7–1344: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union ( Harriman )

1691. Present plans for informal discussions on an international organization are that the two tripartite conversations, namely between the United States, Great Britain and the Soviet Union and between the United States, Great Britain and China, will take place concurrently in Washington early in August.

[Page 652]

In order to keep our discussions with the British and the Chinese more or less on a parity with the similar discussions in which the Soviet representatives will participate, our present plans call for holding both sets of conversations at Dumbarton Oaks, which has appropriate facilities for informal conversations of this nature. There is no other suitable location in Washington at which talks of this kind could be held this summer and the fact that the American representatives and presumably the British representatives for the two sets of talks are identic makes it imperative that the two sets of talks be held in the same place.

Please convey the foregoing information concerning the proposed arrangements to Molotov for his information and at the same time assure him that although held in the same place the two sets of conversations will be kept entirely separate.

We do not anticipate any objection from the Soviet Government to the proposed arrangements but should Molotov have any doubts on the subject we hope you will find it possible to dispel them since for a number of reasons we consider it most desirable that the contemplated arrangements for the talks be accepted.

Your 2557, July 13, 10 p.m.17 just received. Is answered by our 1680, July 13, 9 a.m.18 which crossed it.

Hull
  1. Not printed; it inquired concerning a reply to Soviet aide-mémoire of July 9.
  2. See footnote 14, p. 650.