740.0011 European War 1939 (M)/1: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:33 p.m.]
1732. For the President, the Secretary and Under Secretary. The conference opened at 1 p.m. today. Molotov welcomed the missions “with great satisfaction.” He stated that as the tasks of the conference had been fully set forth in the Roosevelt–Churchill message there was no necessity to elaborate thereon and that he hoped it would proceed without delay “to annihilate Hitlerian Germany, the enemy of freedom-loving people among whom the Soviet Union, Britain, and the United States hold the place of honor.” The [He] then said that it had been agreed in preliminary talks that the following six committees would be constituted: (1) aviation, (2) army and military supplies, (3) navy, (4) transport, (5) raw materials and equipment, and (6) medical supplies and Red Cross. He concluded with the statement that plenary sessions would be held when necessary and that as time was precious the work of the conference would be most valuable if carried out “successfully and speedily.”
Beaverbrook expressed the good wishes of the British Government to Stalin and Molotov, referred to the British “partnership” with Russia not only in labor “but in sacrifices,” adding that Britain owed much “to our American friends for their support, encouragement and generosity which has kept us where we are.” He concluded with the remark that as time was important the conference should be disposed of “with speed and dispatch.”
[Page 838]Harriman stated that the President had sent his Mission on a historical journey for a nation which was not a belligerent and that the American Mission had come with the same object as the British Mission, “to aid in resisting the violent and uncalled for attack of Hitler and his cohorts.” He said that the success of the Soviet Union in the war meant everything to the people of the United States and that the American Mission had come not only as friends but because the United States had a vital and lasting interest in the outcome of the struggle.
He concluded with the statement that he was instructed to pledge to the people of the Soviet Union, its delegation and Government, the fullest possible assistance not only today but as long as the struggle lasted—until ultimate victory.
The following were designated by Harriman to represent the United States on the various committees: (1) aviation, Chaney as chairman, Thomas, Lyon, Bundy and Cook; (2) army and military supplies, Burns as chairman, Braine, Bundy and Olson; (3) navy, Standley as chairman, Thomas and Braine, (4) transportation, Thomas as chairman, Gross and Thayer as observers; (5) raw material and equipment, Batt as chairman, Brown, Braine, Petty, Page and Thompson as observers; (6) medical supplies and Red Cross, Wardwell as chairman, Nicholson, Strode and Narman.
Molotov then expressed the wish that the committees start work immediately, the chairmen to agree on the time and place.
Beaverbrook expressed the hope that the committees would sit more or less continuously including nights and that all of the committees would submit their reports by the evening of October 2nd.