Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, The Conference of Berlin (The Potsdam Conference), 1945, Volume I

Truman Papers: Telegram

No. 146
The President’s Adviser and Assistant (Hopkins) to the President ¹

[Extracts]²

top secret
operational priority

Moscow, 30 May 1945.

Personal and top secret for the eyes of the President only from Hopkins.

Stalin is very anxious to discuss problems concerning Japan at his following [forthcoming] conference with you.

. . . . . . .

2. Certain elements in Japan are putting out peace feelers[.] Therefore we should consider together our joint attitude and act in concert about the surrender of Japan. …

. . . . . . .

3. Stalin expects that Russia will share in the actual occupation of Japan and wants an agreement with us and the British as to zones of occupation.

4. Stalin also wants an understanding between the Allies as to areas of operation in Manchuria and China.

. . . . . . .

1. Sent by the United States Naval Attaché, Moscow, via Navy channels. Cf. document No. 26.
2. For a fuller text of this message, see “The Entry of the Soviet Union Into the War Against Japan: Military Plans, 1941–1945” (Washington, Department of Defense, processed, 1955), p. 73.