740.0011 P.W./6–245: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman)
1200. Personal for the Ambassador. Reference is made to the memoranda sent to the War and Navy Departments on May 21st outlining the problem of the attitude we should take toward the future position and activities of the Soviet Union in the Far East, which was drawn up for your guidance.
Informal comments have been received from the War Department raising certain basic questions particularly regarding military aspects of some of the suggestions made in the memorandum. These are somewhat detailed but War Department expressed particular concern regarding the following two points:
- 1.
- The advisability of approaching the Soviets in the detail this set of instructions contemplates particularly prior to receiving Chinese reactions to the scheme.
- 2.
- The possible effect of some of the suggestions on our military plans and operations. War Department feels these would require analysis by War, Navy and Joint Chiefs of Staff before we proceed to point of anything approximating military commitments. In this connection, War Department has in mind the suggestion for the creation of a specific type of military organization by the Supreme War Council, which must be given careful consideration before so specific a plan is put forward.
In general, War Department feels that since many of the points raised in the memorandum require both Chinese and British agreement before they can be adopted, it would be best that initially the discussions with the Soviets should be exploratory and general.
The preliminary comments of the War Department go into considerable detail on certain other points in the memorandum which will be outlined to you after further study here. In the meantime, the above comments are given for your information and guidance.