740.00119 European War 1939/7–2044: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:05 p.m.]
2669. In a frank and informal conversation with Maisky, he expressed gratification at the over-all developments in our relationships including military, but indicated that in his opinion we would have difficulties when it came to dealing with Germany particularly in regard to the question of punishment of war criminals and indemnities. He explained that it was not only a question of the views of the Soviet Government but all the Russian people as well, 100% of whom would demand harsh punishment and large indemnities. He said he knew that the American and British people would be more lenient [Page 895] and that the divergent points of view would be difficult to reconcile. He indicated further that the Soviets would expect German forced labor to rebuild the destruction but he would not mention a figure. He assumed that these questions would be thrashed out in the European Advisory Council13 but in addition he realized that the Soviet point of view would have to be fully explained to the American and British people. At the present time, however, this could not be done as public discussion of this nature might prolong German resistance.
Repeated to London for the Ambassador as No. 130.
- The European Advisory Commission was provided for at the Moscow Conference to consider all problems affecting the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union; see Foreign Relations, 1943, vol. i, p. 750. For its organization in London and its early operation, see ibid., pp. 801 ff.↩