740.00119 P. W./8–1145: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 11—9:50 a.m.]
M–25264. For the President and the Secretary of State. This morning I received confirmation in writing from Molotov of the changes given me by telephone last night in his reply to our proposed statement to the Japanese Government on surrender as reported to you in my cable number M–25260. I realize that the last paragraph is clumsy language in English but it is a literal translation of the Russian. Pavlov in his early oral translation and subsequently by telephone used the word “candidate” instead of “candidacy”. I thought it better, however, to stick to the literal translation. My conversation with Molotov as reported in my M–25259 appears to clarify the meaning of the sentence.