761.93/7–745: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to President Truman and the Secretary of State
071545. I took the occasion of Soong’s lunch with me informally today to inform him of the President’s and your desire to be consulted before any arrangements were concluded based on the Yalta Agreement. He readily agreed.
Reference White House message No. 31076 Navy No. 061511. I also informed Molotov this afternoon. He asked whether you had in mind consultation at Berlin or before. I explained that if an understanding were reached in the next few days I assumed that you would wish to be informed at once. He said he would consult Stalin. Both Molotov and Soong told me there had been no meeting since Monday but that Soong would see Stalin tonight.
I have had two long talks with Soong since my message to you No. 051030.77 His reply from Chiang was delayed because of the latter’s absence from Chungking. Soong has informed me of his latest instructions. As he has a certain flexibility in the negotiations I shall await reporting the details until after the meeting tonight. His principal worry is Stalin’s demand for formal recognition of the independence of Outer Mongolia. Soong is trying to find a formula that Chiang can accept without prejudice to the position of his Government in China and which will be satisfactory to Stalin. It seems clear from what Soong has told me that he has no intention of making any arrangement regarding Dairen which would be prejudicial to the [Page 920] commerce of any friendly nation in Manchuria. He recognizes the justifiable special requirement of the Russians to have an efficient port and railroads with adequate facilities to handle imports and exports to and from Russia, also freedom from Chinese duties.