Moscow Embassy Files—710 Sino-Soviet Relations: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to President Truman
151930. This evening I delivered to Marshal Stalin the message transmitted in your White House No. 292. I feel, however, I should point out that at Yalta it was agreed that President Roosevelt [Page 905] would not take the matter up with the Generalissimo until Marshal Stalin had indicated he was prepared to withstand a Japanese attack. It was recognized that in Chungking there was danger of a leak to the Japanese and that the initiative might then be taken by them.
Marshal Stalin, when Ambassador Hurley was in Moscow, again stated to Hurley and myself that he wished to be consulted before the matter was discussed with Chiang Kai-shek.
When Hopkins and I recently discussed this question with Stalin the Marshal stated that he would initiate the discussion with T. V. Soong if he came to Moscow toward the end of June, and asked that Hurley support it with the Generalissimo simultaneously. He said he considered that by the first of July his troops would be ready to withstand an attack.
I do not believe that Stalin will object seriously to the instructions you have issued to Ambassador Hurley, but unless it is too late I feel it would be wiser to adhere to Stalin’s repeated request and obtain his prior approval. I can take the matter up at once with Marshal Stalin if you should decide to do this.
In order to avoid a misunderstanding I suggest that in any event I be instructed to inform Stalin of the circumstances which caused instructions to be given Hurley to go ahead before Stalin was consulted.