Office of the Historian

740.00119 PW/8–2545

The Secretary of State to President Truman 38
Washington, August 25, 1945.

Suggested Message From President Truman to Generalissimo Stalin39

In response to your message of August 22nd, 1945, as far as the base on the Kurile Islands is concerned, my idea was that use of landing rights in the central Kuriles during the occupation of Japan would be an important contribution to the cooperative action we will be taking in connection with the carrying out of the Japanese surrender terms as it would afford another route for air connection with the United States for emergency use during the period of occupation of Japan.

I also felt no hesitancy in bringing up the matter of landing facilities for commercial use. You evidently misunderstood my message because you refer to it as a demand usually laid before a conquered state or an allied state unable to defend parts of its territory. I was not speaking about any territory of the Soviet Republic. I was speaking of the Kurile Islands, Japanese territory, disposition of which must be made at a Peace settlement. I was advised that my predecessor agreed to support in the peace settlement the Soviet acquisition of those Islands. I did not consider it offensive when you asked me to confirm that agreement. When you expect our support for your desire for permanent possession of all the Kurile Islands, I cannot see why you consider it offensive if I ask for consideration of a request for landing rights on only one of those Islands. I consider the request for discussion all the more reasonable because of the close and cordial relations existing between our two governments and between us personally. While I believe early discussion of these matters would be helpful, I will not press it if you do not wish to discuss them now.

  1. Transmitted to President Truman by the Secretary of State with this comment: “As to that part of Stalin’s note expressing annoyance about your not agreeing to surrender of forces on Hokkaido to Soviet forces, that part of the original message was written at the White House. My suggestion is that you do not notice this paragraph. J.F.B.”↩
  2. This message was sent as drafted on August 27.↩