Moscow Embassy Files: 800.1–Stalin
The American Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Smith) to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union (Molotov)
Dear Mr. Molotov: I have received for transmission the following message from President Truman to Generalissimo Stalin:
“Referring to your message of April 6th, it is particularly pleasing to receive your personal statement of the Soviet Union’s understanding of the importance of the United Nations Organization.
“Your statement is in full agreement with the attitude of the United States Government and people who are devoted to the preservation of world peace.
“May I express to you my personal regret that the condition of your health does not at the present time permit of your making long journeys, and my sincere hope for a complete recovery in the early future.84
“With expressions of personal regards.”
I will be grateful if you will be good enough to see that this message is delivered to the Generalissimo.
Sincerely yours,
- The President’s message was originally sent to the Embassy through military channels on April 9, 1946. The President was advised by Ambassador Smith in telegram 1131, April 10, from Moscow, that a change in wording at the close of the third paragraph seemed desirable to forestall any possible offense to Stalin. This suggestion was approved in telegram 672, April 11, to Moscow. The change came following the words “early future” where a period was substituted, and the remainder of the sentence, which had continued “that will restore your one time capacity for efforts of any magnitude that were indicated as helpful to our common cause”, was dropped. This modified version was then sent to Molotov in note No. 157 on April 12, and Molotov replied to Ambassador Smith on the same day that this message had been sent on to Stalin.↩