740.00119 Council/10–1445: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 14—11:25 a.m.]
3541. Personal for the Secretary. Have just received your telegram 2152, October 12, 4 p.m., transmitting message to Stalin from the President. This message evidently was delayed in transmission and did not reach Embassy until 9 this morning October 14.
As I have reported, Molotov told me Stalin would be away about 6 weeks which would mean that he would not return until third week in November. It is rumored, and I believe likely, that he has gone to his country house in Sochi in the Caucasus area of Black Sea. Today being Sunday Molotov is out of town but I hope to see him tomorrow. I propose to tell him that I have seen a message which the President has asked me to deliver to Generalissimus Stalin personally and to discuss it with him. I will propose that arrangements be made for me to go to Stalin’s residence for this purpose, emphasizing importance of the matter. I have no idea whether this will be permitted but I will make every attempt to see Stalin personally within the next few days. If I find this impossible I will telegraph recommendation as to alternative procedure. My recommendation would to some extent be affected by Molotov’s general attitude.11
- Telegram 3558, October 16, noon, from Moscow, printed in vol. vi , reported that Ambassador Harriman had seen Foreign Commissar Molotov on October 15 and had explained the procedure he wished to follow in delivering the President’s message to Stalin; on October 16, Molotov informed Ambassador Harriman that the latter’s request had been telegraphed to Stalin.↩