Office of the Historian

861.2311/10–445: Telegram

The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kennan) to the Secretary of State

Moscow, October 4, 1945—5 p.m.
[Received October 4—11:04 a.m.]

3451. In connection with announcement that Zhukov visit to USA has been postponed on account of illness,57 it is encouraging to note that the Marshal is at least not bedridden. He was seen at theater evening of October 2 apparently in good health by member of this Embassy staff.

To Department 3451, repeated Berlin 98.

Kennan
  1. In pursuance of instructions Ambassador Harriman had informed Foreign Commissar Molotov on August 2, 1945, that President Truman extended through Generalissimo Stalin an invitation for Marshal Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov to visit the United States. Assistant People’s Commissar Vyshinsky in a letter of September 17 to the Chargé George F. Kennan, replied that the invitation was accepted and that the beginning of October would be the best time for Marshal Zhukov to come. General Eisenhower had made a visit to Moscow and Leningrad August 11–15.↩