Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, Europe, Volume V

711.60/6–245: Telegram

President Truman to the British Prime Minister (Churchill)⁹⁶

[Washington, June 2, 1945.]

54. On May 27 Marshal Stalin proposed that our Governments establish diplomatic relations with Finland, Rumania, Bulgaria and, at a later time, Hungary. He said he was sending you a similar message.

I am today replying to him as follows:⁹⁷

“I have given considerable thought to your message of May 27 in which you propose that our Governments should at this time establish diplomatic relations with Finland, Rumania, Bulgaria and, at a later time, Hungary.

“Your suggestion shows that you feel, as I do, that we should endeavor to make the period of the armistice regimes as short as possible and also give prompt recognition to all efforts which may be made by those countries which have been our enemies to align themselves with the democratic principles of the Allied nations. I therefore agree that normal relations with these countries should be established at the earliest feasible time.

“I am accordingly prepared to proceed at once with the exchange of diplomatic representatives with Finland, all the more readily, of course, because that country has not been in a state of war with the United States, but also because through their elections and other political adjustments the Finnish people have demonstrated their genuine devotion to democratic principles and procedures.

“In Hungary, Rumania, and Bulgaria, however, I have not found the same encouraging signs. There, and particularly in the latter two countries, I have been disturbed to find governments which do not accord to all democratic elements of the people the rights of free expression, and which in their system of administration are, in my opinion, neither representative of or responsive to the will of the people. You already know, from Ambassador Harriman’s note of March 14, the reasons why the United States Government considers that the political situation in Rumania should be made the subject of consultation among the three principal Allied Governments. As regards Bulgaria, you are also aware of American concern over the proposed electoral procedures and certain other political manifestations there.

“I sincerely hope that the time may soon come when I can accredit formal diplomatic representatives to these countries. To this end I am ready at any moment to have my representatives meet with Soviet and British representatives in order more effectively to concert our policies and actions in this area. I think this would be a constructive move toward the restoration of normal peacetime relations with them as independent states ready to assume the responsibilities and to share the benefits of participation in the family of nations.

“I am informing Mr. Churchill of this message to you.”

Would you let me know what you think of Marshal Stalin’s proposal?

96. This message to Prime Minister Churchill and the quoted message to Marshal Stalin contained therein were drafted in the Department of State and transmitted to Admiral Leahy at the White House under cover of a memorandum from Acting Secretary of State Grew dated June 1.
97. The quoted message from President Truman to Marshal Stalin was transmitted to Ambassador Harriman in message No. 021452, White House No. 280, June 2, for delivery to Stalin. The message delivered by Ambassador Harriman to Foreign Commissar Molotov on June 7 for forwarding to Marshal Stalin was a close paraphrase of the text printed here with one omission as noted in the telegram of June 7 from Moscow, p. 552.