Roosevelt Papers: Telegram

The President to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union ( Harriman )1

top secret
priority

Number 76. Top Secret and Personal from the President to Ambassador Harriman.

Your number . . . [telegram of October 3] received.2

Will you please deliver the following message to Marshal Stalin at once:

“While I had hoped that the next meeting could have been between you, Churchill and myself, I appreciate that the Prime Minister wishes to have an early conference with you.

You, naturally, understand that in this global war there is literally no question, political or military, in which the United States is not interested. I am firmly convinced that the three of us, and only the three of us, can find the solution to the still unresolved questions. In this sense, while appreciating the Prime Minister’s desire for the meeting, I prefer to regard your forthcoming talks with Churchill as preliminary to a meeting of the three of us which, so far as I am concerned, can take place any time after the elections here.

In the circumstances, I am suggesting, if you and Mr. Churchill approve, that our Ambassador in Moscow be present at your coming conference as an observer for me.3 Naturally, Mr. Harriman would not be in a position to commit this Government relative to the important matters which you and the Prime Minister will, very naturally, discuss.

You will, by this time, have received from General Deane, the statement of our Combined Chiefs of Staff position relative to the war against Japan4 and I want to reiterate to you how completely I accept the assurances which you have given us on this point. Our three countries are waging a successful war against Germany and we can surely join together with no less success in crushing a nation that I am sure in my heart is as great an enemy of Russia as she is of ours.”

The above message will indicate to you that I wish you to participate as an observer.

I can tell you quite frankly, but for you only and not to be communicated under any circumstances to the British or the Russians, that I would have very much preferred to have the next conference between the three of us for the very reasons that I have stated to the Marshal. I should hope that this bilateral conference be nothing more than a preliminary exploration by the British and the Russians [Page 7] leading up to a full dress meeting between the three of us. You, therefore, should bear in mind that there are no subjects of discussion that I can anticipate between the Prime Minister and Stalin in which I will not be greatly interested. It is of importance, therefore, that when this conference is over Mr. Hull and I have complete freedom of action.

I will expect you to come home immediately when the discussions are over and, naturally, you will keep Mr. Hull and me fully and currently advised during the talks.

Roosevelt
  1. Sent to the United States Naval Attaché, Moscow, via Navy channels.
  2. Not printed.
  3. Sherwood (p. 833) indicates that Hopkins stopped the transmission of a previous draft of this telegram which would in effect have “let Churchill speak for the United States as well as for Great Britain”.
  4. The President evidently was referring to the Joint Chiefs of Staff position alluded to infra.