Jttia' CtufA.-.  PaS- QaSu^p
Personal and Secret
December 23rd, 19U1
My dear Welles,
You will remember that at our
last conversation I gave you the substance
of the telegrams which I had received from
Mr. Eden giving an account of his conversa-
tions with M« Stalin in Moscow.   A few more
telegrams have now come in from Moscow and
I think you will be interested to know their
contents.
In the first place, as regards
Mr. Eden's general discussions with the Soviet
representatives, you will remember that I
explained that M. Stalin was insistent that
any agreement that might be signed should
include a reference to the restoration of the
Russian/
The Honourable
Sumner Welles,
Under Secretary of State
of the United States,
Washington, D. C«
*?.Hi..:iiK
Russian pre-war frontiers.    In a telegram dated
December 20th, Mr. Kden reported that at a
further meeting with M. Stalin on that day it
had been agreed to postpone the negotiation of
any actual agreements.    Instead, M. Stalin had
proposed that a full communique1 should be issued.
Mr. Eden concurred in this suggestion, end I
enclose herein a copy of the text of the
communique as finally agreed upon.    It would
seem that it has also been agreed that this
communique shall be broadcast at midnight, Greenwich
Mean Time, on December 28th/29th, and that for
reasons of security nothing should be published
before that time.
In his telegram of December 20th Mr. Eden
stated that the meeting that day had been cordial,
and in a subsequent telegram dated December 22nd
Mr. Eden reported that his discussions had ended
on a friendly note.   The final talks with M. Stalin
had been most satisfactory, and Mr. Eden felt sure
that/
-3-
that his visit had been worthwhile and that
some at least of past suspicions on the part
of the Russians had been allayed.    Mr. Eden
expressed the view that M. Stalin was sincerely
anxious to conclude some definite agreement with
the British Government.   M. Stalin would, however,
definitely not sign until the British Government
recognised the Russian frontiers, and continued
pressure on this question was to be anticipated.
Mr. Eden added that meanwhile the positions of
Great Britain and of the United States were completely
safeguarded.
Secondly, as regards the Par East, you will
remember that I told you that M. Stalin had ex-
plained to Mr. Eden that while he would be in a
position to give assistance in the spring he was
most anxious not to provoke Japan at the present
moment.   A subsequent telegram from Mr. Eden
dated December 22nd reported a further conver-
sation with M. Stalin in which the latter confirmed
his previous attitude.    M. Stalin had stated that
a Soviet declaration of war on Japan would involve
Russia in serious fighting for which they were not
at present ready.   Preparations were being made to
replace/
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replace the Russian troops now being moved
onw oilnarisomlT" .svsa. asbli ,..rn.s $ Hi J tc
from the Par East, but the necessary arrange-
ments would not be completed for about four
months.   M. Stalin haa gone on to say that he
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thought that from the point of view of Russian
opinion it would be much better if Japan were
left to attack:" the U.S.S.R. - a possibility
which he thought very likely, though not just
at the present moment but rather later on.
Mr. Eden pointed out to M. Stalin
that in the meantime the Japanese might adopt
the policy of dealing with their enemies
piecemeal and that the next few months would
be very difficult in the Par East.   M. Stalin
had then concluded by saying that he would like
the discussions regarding the Par East to be
resumed in the spring when the Soviet Government
would be in a better state of preparation. He
thought however that the Japanese might attack
the U.S.S.R. earlier, in which case the position
would be clarified.
. ,       , Yours very sincerely,    (SGD) HALIFAX
jr. o •    \ o ve r)
P.S.   You know most of this already from
Wi riant, "but I thought it might be useful
to you to have our stuff in order.
In telegraphing about an awful banquet
that Eden had the last night and which went
on till 5 a.m., Eden says, "Timoshenko who
was present was most confident of Russian
prospects in South.    Both he and Stalin
emphasise fall in lierrnan morale".
H.
23.12.U1