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

701.6174/6–1845: Telegram

No. 161
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman)

top secret
priority

Washington, June 18, 1945—6 p.m.

1336. The following message¹ from the President is for transmission to Marshal Stalin:

• “1. I fully agree that the establishment of diplomatic relations with Rumania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Finland, to which you revert in your telegram of June 9,² would be a constructive step. Our exchange of messages on this subject shows that our Governments may not be approaching the matter in quite the same way because the state of our respective relations with these various states is not identical. For example, there would be no obstacle to the immediate resumption of diplomatic relations between the United States and Finland, and as regards Rumania, Hungary, and Bulgaria, while our general interests are the same all around, we find that the present internal situation has different aspects in each country.
• 2. I am giving this matter further study. As the most practical way of coming to a uniform agreement I therefore propose that we discuss it at our forthcoming meeting.”

Grew
S[amuel] R[eber]

1. Drafted in the Department of State and forwarded by Grew to Truman for the latter’s approval under cover of a memorandum of June 18 (file No. 701.6174/6–1845). Harriman forwarded the message on June 19.
2. See document No. 285, footnote 5.