Office of the Historian

123 Harriman, W. Averell/4–1445: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman)

Washington, April 14, 1945—3 p.m.

867. Your 1161 and Department’s 863, April 13, 10 p.m.18 Stalin’s reversal of decision naturally alters the considerations which led to our disapproving your return home at this time. With Molotov coming I feel it would be very desirable and appropriate for you to accompany him to Washington. You are, therefore, authorized if Molotov is definitely coming to accompany him to Washington. We feel it would be most desirable if you would emphasize to Stalin, if you could see him before departure, and to Molotov that the problem between our two countries which was causing President Roosevelt before his death the greatest concern was the failure thus far of the Polish negotiations. We suggest in this connection that you ask [Page 213] Stalin and Molotov to review with this in mind the President’s message of April 1, which sets forth in full his considered opinion on this subject.19

For your own information this subject may come up in discussion with Molotov when he is in Washington and we feel that it would be well to have as much preparation as possible done by you in Moscow with Stalin before you leave. The news that Molotov is prepared to come to Washington and San Francisco is, of course, highly gratifying but the Polish issue remains the most dangerous of the problems which face us in our relations with the Soviet Union.

We hope you will bring Durbrow with you as he is urgently needed here. Also, if Page20 could be spared he could be most useful at San Francisco, but we leave that entirely to your discretion.

Stettinius
  1. Telegram 1161, April 13, from Moscow, is printed in vol. i, p. 289. Telegram 863, April 13, to Moscow, not printed, asked Ambassador Harriman to convey to Marshal Stalin the information that the President would look forward with pleasure to a visit by Molotov to Washington (033.6111/4–1345).↩
  2. President Roosevelt’s message of April 1 to Marshal Stalin, p. 194.↩
  3. Edward Page, Jr., Second Secretary of Embassy in Moscow.↩