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

740.00119 Potsdam/6–645

No. 35
The Soviet Foreign Commissar (Molotov) to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman)

[Translation]

personal and
top secret

Moscow, May 26, 1945.

Dear Mr. Ambassador: Today, during the conversation between Marshal I. V. Stalin and Mr. Hopkins¹ it was mentioned with regard to a place for the pending meeting of the Heads of Government of our countries that in the message of I. V. Stalin to President Truman the region of Berlin was spoken of. For the purpose of accuracy I must tell you now that mention was made of this area for a meeting not in the above mentioned message but in my answering telegram to Mr. Joseph Davies who, referring to his conversation with the President, recently raised the question of a meeting of the two heads of Government and also of a place of this meeting.²

Sincerely yours,

V. Molotov

1. For an account of Hopkins’ conversation with Stalin regarding a meeting of Heads of Government, see ante, p. 28. Churchill, in a message to Stalin sent on the same day, May 26, regarding the disposition of the German Fleet, suggested to Stalin that the question of the German Fleet “should form part of the general discussions which ought to take place between us and President Truman at the earliest possible date”. See document No. 141. Stalin replied to Churchill on May 27 as follows (text from Stalin’s Correspondence, vol. i, p. 360):

   “Mr. Hopkins, who has arrived in Moscow, on behalf of the President has suggested a meeting between the three of us in the immediate future. I think that a meeting is called for and that the most convenient place would be the vicinity of Berlin. That would probably be right politically as well.

   “Have you any objections?”

   For Churchill’s reply to this message, see document No. 39.

2. Copies of the Davies-Molotov correspondence referred to have not been found.