740.00119 Council/10–2245: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 22—10:25 a.m.]
3623. Molotov’s proposal in his letter of October 22, reported in my No. 3622, October 22, 1 p.m., appears to be substantially in accordance with the plan you have in mind regarding Allied control machinery for Japan. I feel it would be most helpful if I could be informed urgently of your reaction. It had been my intention to make every effort to get Stalin’s agreement to send a Soviet representative to first Far Eastern Advisory Commission’s meeting October 30. As Molotov is now climbing down, Stalin is likely to agree to send representative particularly if I am instructed to indicate to him that something along Molotov’s proposal is in principle agreeable to you and that it will be discussed in detail not only at the Council meeting itself but in informal bilateral talks. It seems that the Soviets wish to avoid getting into a public disagreement with US at the Council meeting and therefore would wish to have informal bilateral talks as well.