711.60/5–2845
Memorandum by Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy, Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, to the Secretary of State
The following message from Premier J. V. Stalin to the President, dated May 27, 1945, is forwarded to you for the preparation of a draft reply:69
“More than eight months have elapsed since Romania and Bulgaria have broken off with Hitlerite Germany, have concluded armistice with the Allied states and have joined the war on the side of the Allies against Germany having detailed their armed forces for this purpose. By this they have made a contribution to the cause of defeat of Hitlerism and for the victorious completion of victory in Europe. During this time the Governments of Bulgaria and Romania have proven in reality their readiness to cooperate with the United Nations. In connection with this the Soviet Government considers it right and timely to reestablish right now diplomatic relations with Romania and Bulgaria and to exchange envoys.
Simultaneously the Soviet Government considers it practicable to reestablish diplomatic relations also with Finland which is fulfilling the conditions of the armistice agreement and which has taken the road of strengthening of diplomatic beginnings.70 It seems to me [Page 234] possible, after a certain amount of time, to take a similar decision in respect to Hungary.71
Simultaneously I am sending a similar message to Mr. Churchill.”
- For further exchange of messages between President Truman and Marsha) Stalin on June 7, 9, 19, and 23 regarding recognition of Finland, Rumania, Bulgaria, and Hungary, see Conference of Berlin (Potsdam) vol. i, p. 358, footnote 5, and pp. 182 and 387.↩
- For documentation respecting Finnish-Soviet relations at this time, see pp. 598 ff.↩
- For documentation on the subject of the reestablishment of diplomatic relations with Hungary, see pp. 798 ff.↩