740.00114 EW/12–544: Telegram

The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kennan) to the Secretary of State

4645. General Deane has brought to my attention the fact that the advance of the Soviet forces in Hungary is now approaching two localities in which American prisoners of war are known to have been contacted. For this reason he is most eager to get on with the discussions with the Russians on this subject. With this in mind he has asked me to approach the Soviet Government again without waiting for the receipt of the instructions mentioned in the Department’s 276588 and to ask that the Russians designate someone who will discuss with him the question of the treatment of any of our prisoners of war who may be liberated by the advance of the Soviet Armed Forces. In accordance with his request I am writing a letter to Molotov in this sense but making it plain that I am expecting further instructions on this matter and that the present request is of a limited nature.

Kennan
  1. Dated December 1, 1944, not printed; it informed the Chargé that the Department was in consultation with the War Department, and that he would soon receive instructions (740.00114 EW/11–2744).