740.00119 EW/3–1745: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union ( Harriman ) to the Secretary of State
M 23249.61 Molotov’s letter contained in my last Army cable M 23247 regarding the Berne meeting confirms the growing impression that General Deane and I have received, particularly since the Crimea Conference, that the Soviet leaders have come to believe that they can force their will on us on any issue.
They have, arbitrarily, and in disregard of the facts, placed their own interpretation on the Yalta agreements regarding Poland, liberated areas as applied to Rumania, and liberated prisoners of war.62
In the present case, Molotov again bases his position on a distortion of the facts. In a letter of March 12 he stated that the Soviet Government had no objections to the Berne meeting and expressed the wish that the Soviet Government might be represented. Now he contends that the Soviet Government acquiesced to the meeting on the [Page 733] condition that Soviet representatives would participate. I he arrogant language of Molotov’s letter, I believe, brings out in the open a domineering attitude toward the United States which we have before only suspected.
It has been my feeling that sooner or later this attitude would create a situation which would be intolerable to us.
I, therefore, recommend that we face the issue now by adhering to the reasonable and generous position that we have taken and by advising the Soviet Government in firm, but friendly, terms to that effect.
- This telegram was sent to Washington via Army channels and carries an Army signal number.↩
- For these agreements, see Foreign Relations, The Conferences at Malta and Yalta, 1945, pp. 980, 977, and 985, respectively.↩