Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, The Conference of Berlin (The Potsdam Conference), 1945, Volume I

740.00119 EW/5–2345: Telegram

No. 18
The Ambassador to the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the President ¹

[Extract]

top secret
us urgent

Paris, May 23, 1945—11 p.m.

2913. Personal and top secret for the President from Harriman.

My daughter, Kathleen, and I dined last night alone with Mr. and Mrs. Churchill. He is greatly pleased with your decision to send Harry² with me.³ The resignation of his Govt today and the coming election in the first week of July are much in his mind. He is gravely concerned over the developments with Russia, feels that it is of the utmost importance to go through firmly with the situation in Venezia Giulia, but does not believe that the basic issues such as Poland can be settled until you and he meet with Stalin. He expressed the hope that this could be arranged as early as possible. He assured me that he would not take any position in regard to Russia which did not have your full support. He said further that he is ready to come and meet you anywhere at any time you are prepared to see him.

. . . . . . .

1. Sent to the Acting Secretary of State over the signature of Jefferson Caffery, American Ambassador to France.
2. i. e., Harry Hopkins.
3. To confer with Stalin. See post, p. 21.