740.00119 Council/11–2445: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 24—7:15 a.m.]
3945. Late last night I delivered to Molotov personally your message to him received via Army channels. He was obviously much pleased at your suggestion and said that the idea appealed to him personally, though he would of course have to consult his Govt. He commented “it is a good thing that Mr. Byrnes recalled that the three of us could meet independently”, and added that he was most anxious to know what subjects you had in mind discussing. I told him I had no specific information but I assumed all open questions between us, mentioning the arranging for another meeting of the Foreign Ministers Council, Far Eastern questions, civil strife in China, disturbing developments in Iran, Bulgaria, etc. I said I assumed that each of the three Secretaries might wish to make prior suggestions for the agenda in order that all might be prepared to discuss them but that in addition the meeting would be as usual informal and any one could bring up additional matters that the others were willing to discuss.24
He showed the usual Russian sense of hospitality by emphasizing that he would always welcome you in Moscow. I said I had no doubt you had in mind the fact that people of the world were disturbed over the apparent rift between the three great Allies and that this tension would be relieved by your getting together. I said I knew you had been anxious for some time to come to Moscow and that you had told me in London before the disagreement developed that you hoped an early meeting in Moscow could be arranged. I added that your suggestion was obviously a friendly and timely one and I was glad that he had reacted favorably to it.
May I say that I personally am much pleased by your proposal and feel that it will assist in allaying the unfounded suspicions of the Soviets.
Do you wish me to attempt to find out if Stalin will be in Moscow at that time? Pavlov appeared last night as interpreter having just returned from Sochi. This might indicate that Stalin has or is about to return.
- Telegram 2392, November 24, 10 a.m., to Moscow, informed Ambassador Harriman as follows: “Your statement to Molotov was correct. Views as to subjects should be exchanged prior to meeting but meeting should be informal and discussions not restricted to an agenda. We should avoid appearance of a conference with delegations. The fewer present the greater chance of accomplishment.” (740.00119 Council/11–2445)↩