740.00119 Council/12–2545

Memorandum of Conversation, by the First Secretary of Embassy in the Soviet Union (Page)20

Present: Generalissimus I. V. Stalin
Mr. Pavlov, Soviet Interpreter
W. A. Harriman, American Ambassador
Edward Page, First Secretary of Embassy

Subject: The Japanese Situation

After preliminary remarks on railroad construction in the Caucasus, the Ambassador stated that as the Generalissimus had originally raised the Japanese question he now wished to clarify certain aspects of this matter.

[Here follows a discussion of the Japanese situation, omitted here.]

The Ambassador inquired whether there would be any useful purpose in discussing the London procedural question any further. He remarked that the Generalissimus had stated that the Japanese question should be settled first. The Generalissimus replied that the two questions should be settled simultaneously since they were linked together. The Ambassador inquired as to what he should report with respect to the Generalissimus’ views on the procedural question. The Generalissimus replied that he had explained his point of view in yesterday’s meeting. The Ambassador stated that as he understood it agreement should first be reached upon what nations should be invited to the proposed peace conference. The Generalissimus replied that it would be advisable to agree on this matter. The Ambassador inquired whether he was right in assuming that the Generalissimus was ready to have submitted to this conference the four peace treaties drawn up in accordance with the Potsdam 4–3–2 formula. The Generalissimus replied in the affirmative. He stated that he did not object to a general conference. However, first of all the rights of the members of this conference should be defined as against the rights of the signatories of the armistice terms. The Ambassador inquired as to what rights the Generalissimus had in mind. Who, for example should conclude the peace treaties? The Generalissimus replied that those who signed the surrender terms should be the nations to sign the peace treaties. The Ambassador inquired whether countries like Yugoslavia [Page 576] and Greece, insofar as Bulgaria was concerned, should have any rights in the final stage, that is in the actual conclusion of the peace, or only rights of expressing their views at the general conference. The Generalissimus replied that there was no objection on his part to such countries signing the peace. However, the nature of the peace treaties should be defined by the armistice makers.

The Ambassador inquired as to the Generalissimus’ reaction to the list he had left with him last night. (The Generalissimus went out of the room to get the list). He then stated that he objected to the inclusion of China, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Norway and India. The rest had taken part in the war against Italy and he would accept them. The Ambassador stated that he knew the President felt that Belgium and Holland had been vitally affected by the war and should be brought into these discussions. The Ambassador and the Generalissimus thereupon went over the list. The Generalissimus stated that in addition to the Big Three, France, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Greece, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, Brazil and Ethiopia should participate in the peace conference. He objected to the participation of Norway, Holland, Belgium, Poland, India, China and Luxembourg. He did not “require” the participation of the Ukraine or White Russia.

The Ambassador reiterated the President’s concept that this was one war against the Axis. Such countries like Norway, Holland and Belgium had been overrun by the Nazis. They were vitally interested in the peace. Norway and Holland had continued to fight with their navies and merchant shipping. The Generalissimus remarked that if these countries should be included all of the sixteen [Soviet] republics should also participate. They had fought and suffered. They had more independence than India. The Ambassador inquired whether the sixteen republics could be placed in the same category as the sovereign independent countries of Belgium, Holland and Norway. The Generalissimus maintained that they were the same as India.

The Ambassador stated that he would immediately report in full to his Government as soon as he had returned to Moscow. He was very grateful for the amount of time the Generalissimus had given him and he wished to thank him most sincerely for the Generalissimus’ hospitality and enjoyable time he had had during his visit to Gagri.

The Generalissimus concluded that he had not only received Mr. Harriman as the Ambassador of America but also as a friend. It would always be so.21

  1. This conversation was reported to the Department in telegrams 3669 and 3670, October 26, from Moscow, neither printed.
  2. On October 26 Stalin sent a brief message to President Truman stating that he, Stalin, had had two talks with Harriman and had replied to the questions raised by the Ambassador; for text of the message, see Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the U.S.S.R., Correspondence between the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the U.S.S.R. and the Presidents of the U.S.A. and the Prime Ministers of Great Britain During the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945 (Moscow, Foreign Languages Publishing House, 1957), vol. ii, p. 276.