123 Steinhardt, Laurence A./380½: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt)
1184. From the President for the Ambassador only.
“Your telegram 1874 of November 3, midnight,24 has been brought to my personal attention. I deeply appreciate the spirit of loyalty which has caused you to remain at your post during this crucial period and devote yourself entirely to the interests of our country at great sacrifice to yourself.
[Page 853]It would now seem that Soviet-American relations in the immediate future at any rate will consist almost exclusively of matters pertaining to the furnishing of supplies and equipment to the Soviet Union in order to enable that country to continue its resistance to Germany.
In conducting this type of relation it would be advantageous to have as Ambassador in the Soviet Union someone who is fully acquainted with detailed problems of American production and supply. Such a background for Ambassador is particularly important since faulty communications may at once require the settling on the spot of problems of a highly technical nature.
I have, therefore, decided to name as Ambassador to the Soviet Union Major General James H. Burns, with whom you are personally acquainted and whose qualifications are undoubtedly known to the Soviet Government. Please immediately seek his agrément.25 In the meantime, you may make immediate preparations to return to the United States so that I may have an opportunity to discuss with you recent developments in the Soviet situation and also to talk of a new post which I hope you will be able to accept.26
If you can reach Washington within a short time, I would prefer not to announce this change until after you have reported to me.27 Please, therefore, inform me regarding what would appear to be the earliest possible date of your arrival in Washington.
If we can be of any assistance to you from this end in facilitating your travel, please let us know. Roosevelt.”
- Supra. ↩
- The agrément for Major General Burns was requested of Vyshinsky on November 7, who stated on the following day that the appointment would be acceptable. In January 1942, President Roosevelt decided that “General Burns would be more useful here in carrying out Lend-Lease operations than if we sent him to Moscow as Ambassador.” Rear Adm. William H. Standley was subsequently appointed on February 19, 1942, as the next Ambassador to the Soviet Union.↩
- Mr. Steinhardt became Ambassador to Turkey on January 12, 1942.↩
- Ambassador Steinhardt left Kuibyshev on the morning of November 12, 1941.↩