740.00119 Council/12–345: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
10451. Reference your 12525, November 30. President’s remarks at Press Conference as to “meetings of Big Three” had reference only to meetings of Prime Minister, Stalin and the President. It is generally understood here that “Big Three” refers not to countries but to the heads of the three governments.
[Page 593]I still think it important that we should confer with Molotov about the atomic bomb before our proposal is presented to the United Nations Assembly. After the three Foreign Ministers have conferred, we can also present the proposal to France and China.
As to the suggestion that we cannot discuss Far Eastern affairs in the absence of China, we have been negotiating with Russia as to the Far Eastern Commission. China is aware of it and does not object. I am satisfied China would welcome any progress in our relations with Russia which affect China.
We would make plain before the meeting that it was exploratory, that the purpose of such meetings as originally proposed was to enable us to exchange views as to current problems.
I do hope that Bevin can promptly secure agreement to our meeting at Moscow on December 15.54
- In telegram 12677, December 4, 2 p.m., from London, Ambassador Winant reported that he had outlined the Secretary’s position to Bevin who would communicate with the Secretary through Ambassador Halifax. Telegram 10494, December 4, to London, replied that Halifax had not heard from Bevin, that the Secretary was embarrassed over the delay and asked that Bevin be urged to communicate with the Secretary as soon as possible. In response, telegram 12700, December 4, from London, reported that Bevin’s reply had already been sent by Bevin to Halifax. (740.00119 Council/12–445)↩