Office of the Historian

740.00119 Council/12–845: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman)

Washington, December 8, 1945—noon.

2479. Personal from the Secretary. I expect to leave Washington on the morning of December 12. Will arrive in Moscow either evening of 14th or certainly morning of 15th.65 I presume we will proceed via Berlin where the Soviet navigator and radio operator will be picked up. The Army is handling all arrangements and will communicate exact time and other details. I shall be accompanied by Mr. Cohen,66 Mr. Freeman Matthews,67 Mr. John Carter Vincent,68 Mr. Bohlen69 and Colonel Hugh Kelly.70 There may be one or two additions to the party whose names will be immediately communicated to you.71 Please ask the Soviet Foreign Office to give Embassy here blanket authorization to issue necessary visas to members of our party.

As I wish to keep the party as small as possible, please let me know urgently if Embassy can handle question of stenographers or if it is necessary for me to bring stenographic personnel and, if so, how many.

Byrnes
  1. The Secretary’s party, flying by way of Paris, Frankfurt, and Berlin, arrived in Moscow, December 14, local time.↩
  2. Benjamin V. Cohen, Counselor of the Department of State.↩
  3. Director of the Office of European Affairs.↩
  4. Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs.↩
  5. Charles E. Bohlen, Assistant to the Secretary of State.↩
  6. Military Aide to the Secretary of State.↩
  7. Telegram 2487, December 11, 1945, to Moscow, reported that Dr. James B. Conant, President of Harvard University, and Walter K. Scott, Communications Officer of the Department of State, would also accompany the Secretary to Moscow (740.00119 Council/12–1145).↩