740.00119 European War 1939/2468a: Telegram

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

812. The Department has been informed that Clark Kerr was instructed some days ago to inform the Soviet Government that the British presume that in dealing with the Rumanians for surrender of the Rumanian Army the Russians will regard themselves as acting on behalf of the three principal Allies. He was directed also to say that the British expect that they and the Americans will be consulted in advance in case the armistice terms which the Russians may propose carry any stipulations or implications extending beyond the accomplishment of the military capitulation. The British Embassy has inquired whether similar instructions could be sent to you.

The Department is in general agreement with the British point of view, and we have no reason to believe that it is at variance with the Soviet views. You may, therefore, talk to Mr. Molotoff along these lines, having in mind the instructions to MacVeagh which were summarized in the last two paragraphs of the Department’s 762 of March 31 to you.51

Mr. Molotov’s statement has already provided the Rumanians certain assurances regarding the essentially military character of the [Page 169] penetration of Russian forces into Rumanian territory. We believe it would also be useful in stimulating favorable action by the Rumanians to have it made clear to them that the three principal Allies are acting after mutual consultation and in common agreement, and that the future of the Rumanian nation is not to be left exclusively in the hands of the one power with which Rumania has been directly engaged in combat.52

Hull
  1. Not printed, but see telegram 17 Yugos, March 29, 8 p.m., p. 162.
  2. For press conference statement by the Secretary of State on April 3, see Department of State Bulletin, April 8, 1944, p. 315.