740.00119 Council/12–1445
The People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union (Molotov) to the American Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman)
[Translation]
Moscow, December 14,
1945.
Dear Mr. Ambassador: Having studied Mr. Byrnes’ reply79 concerning the proposals of the Soviet Government with respect to the [Page 608] agenda of the meeting set forth in my letter to you of December 7, 1 would appreciate it if you would inform Mr. Byrnes as follows:
- 1.
- The Soviet Government suggested that there be included on the agenda of the meeting of the three Ministers the question concerning the withdrawal of American forces from China because, first of all, this question is very important and timely and secondly because Mr. Byrnes considered it possible in these circumstances to include on the agenda of the forthcoming meeting of the three Ministers other questions no less important immediately concerning China as, for example, the disarming of the Japanese armed forces in North China and their evacuation to Japan and the transfer of control over Manchuria to the National Government of China.
- 2.
- With respect to Mr. Byrnes’ proposal that there be exchanged views in an informal manner concerning the withdrawal of Allied forces from all independent states, with the exception of Germany and Japan, the discussion of this question in such a general form, according to the Soviet Government, is inexpedient especially as, for example, the presence of Soviet troops on the territory of other countries is covered either by armistice agreements in force between the Allies and these countries or by other special agreements.
Please, Mr. Ambassador [etc.]
[
V. M. Molotov
]