Roosevelt Papers: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the President 1
To the President from Harriman:
I told Molotov this afternoon that I had received word from you that if Marshal Stalin could not come to the Mediterranean you were prepared to come to the Black Sea. I emphasized the difficulties that this decision made for you but that in consideration of Marshal Stalin’s health you were prepared to face them. We discussed in detail the arrangements for the holding of the meeting at Yalta with your ship at Sevastopol. Molotov said he would discuss the questions with Marshal Stalin and get in touch with me tomorrow. It was agreed that I and appropriate members of the Military Mission should go to the place of the meeting after preliminary arrangements have been made. It would be helpful if I could be informed of the names of the principal members of your party and the number and character of the balance of the party so that suitable arrangements can be made for their accommodation. As hotels and Sanatoria were stripped of their furniture the Russians will have to make extensive preparations. If you are to be accompanied by the Chiefs of Staff would you wish me to discuss with Marshal Stalin his bringing their opposite numbers of the Russian staff. I feel this would be helpful in the establishment of relationships useful in future discussions. In addition I have found that Marshal Stalin has sometimes given his agreement on military proposals which he has not fully studied and subsequently reversed them after consulting his staff. The presence of members of his staff would I believe therefore contribute to definite decisions. Molotov asked for the approximate date when you expected to arrive in the Crimea. I explained that the Prime Minister had agreed to go wherever you decided and therefore I suggested that [Page 23] the Marshal not communicate with Mr. Churchill until you had had a chance to do so after which I presumed Marshal Stalin would wish to extend him an invitation. I did this as I do not know how far you have kept the Prime Minister informed of the recent developments. I would appreciate advice on this point. In order that we can make arrangements at Sevastopol, it would be helpful to have advice as to the character and number of naval vessels for which provision should be made. Also the approximate number of airplanes which will bring your party. In addition the character of the mail planes and from where they would fly.2