740.00119 E.W./5–845: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kennan) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 8—11:20 a.m.]
1508. No announcement concerning German surrender was forthcoming at 4 p.m. when the official announcements were made in London and Washington and no information is available yet as to the time at which the Soviet Government proposes to make the surrender known to the Soviet public or as to the form in which this step will be taken.93
As far as the Russians are concerned this is an ordinary working day and there has been nothing in the life or aspect of this city to mark the German surrender.
Sent to Department as 1508, repeated to Paris for Reber as 105.
- See Marshal Stalin’s telegram of May 7 to President Truman, received by him at 1 a.m. on May 8, vol. iii, p. 779. In this telegram Marshal Stalin explained the reason for postponement of the announcement by his Government until May 9, 7 p.m., Moscow time.↩