740.0011 European War 1939/12224: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:06 p.m.]
1174. The German informant with whom the Department is acquainted returned last night from Berlin and told me this afternoon that on his arrival in Berlin a few days ago diplomatic circles as well as the Foreign Office were rife with rumors of an impending attack on the Soviet Union but that during the 24 hours prior to his departure there had been a noticeable diminution in the tension.
He stated that while he was not conversant with the present status of the relations between the two Governments he anticipated that if demands have not already been presented to the Soviet Government they shortly will be and remarked: “Your guess is as good as mine as to what the answer will be.” He expressed the opinion that Stalin would go very far to meet any German demands but added that of course there might be demands of a nature which Stalin could not accept. He described German policy towards the Soviet Union of late as having been one of “pressure” but was noncommital as to whether the German intention was to extract the maximum concessions possible from the Soviet Union under such pressure or to invade the Soviet Union regardless of any concessions the Soviet Government might make. He made it clear, however, that the “next few days” will provide an answer and expressed the view that the present tension could not long continue.84
- In a later telegram, No. 1178, June 20, Ambassador Steinhardt reported that 3 hours after this conversation the German informant had stated personally to him that it would be wise, in the informant’s opinion, “to evacuate immediately American children or any American women who could not stand a severe shock.” (740.0011 European War 1939/12251) On the night of June 20, the Department of State renewed its recommendation to the Ambassador for him to advise all American citizens to leave the Soviet Union. The Ambassador delivered specific notification to leave to the few Americans who had recently arrived in the Soviet Union. (Department of State Bulletin, June 28, 1941, p. 756.) For record of a conversation with the Japanese Ambassador on the nearness of a German attack upon the Soviet Union and the probable Japanese reaction, see Ambassador Steinhardt’s telegram No. 1183, June 20, vol. iv, p. 977.↩