Office of the Historian

711.61/5–945: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Acting Secretary of State (Grew)

San Francisco, May 9, 1945.
[Received May 9—8:56 p.m.]

10. I have discussed our relations with the Russians with Ambassador Harriman and he will present to you and the President our conclusions which are along the following lines:

1.
The programs for assistance to our western Allies that have been or may be agreed to in the future should have priority over such assistance to the Russians from the standpoint of availability and transportation.
2.
We should begin curtailing at once our Lend-Lease shipments to Russia and scrutinize carefully requests for shipments after July 1st with a view to our own interests and policies.
3.
The Milepost46 (Pacific) program should continue to be energetically pressed, giving it highest possible priority.
4.
That generally in our attitude toward the Russians with respect to Lend-Lease and similar matters we should be firm while avoiding any implication of a threat or any indication of political bargaining.

Please bring the foregoing to the attention of the President.

[Stettinius]
  1. Code name referring to the stockpiling of supplies in eastern Siberia for the use of Soviet forces in the war against Japan.↩