Telegram from President Harry S. Truman to Prime Minister Winston Churchill

JYFT/ QVFZN GLOXE NRNTP OQFBI IRBKM 1 NLT-249 tux DECLISSIFIED by authority of TOP-SECRET 13 April 1945 S. TOP SECRET KR ValVe211 22 PRIORITY Dates: 7-73 1092 us = 27 From: Opnav GOVERN MENT 132158 To : Alusna, London NUMBER 2. TOP SECRET AND PERSONAL TO THE PRIME MINISTER FROM PRESIDENT TRUMAN. Stalin's replies to you and to President Roosevelt make our next step of the greatest importance. Although with a few exceptions he does not leave much ground for optimism, I feel very strongly that we should have another go at him. I have very much in mind your observations to President Roosevelt on the danger of protracted negotiations and obstructionist tactics being utilized to con- solidate the rule of the Lublin group in Poland and I recognize the compulsion you are under to speak in the House of Commons. (Your 944 to President Roose velt). I feel, however, that we should explore to the full every possibility before any public statement is made which could only be as matters now stand to announce the failure of our efforts due to Soviet intransigence. Once public announcement is made of a breakdown in the Polish negotiations it will carry with it the hopes of the Polish people for a just solution of the Polish problem to say nothing of the effect it will have on our political and military collabor- ation with the Soviet Union. I suggest for your consideration, therefore, that we send a joint message to Stalin over both our names to be delivered personally by our Ambassadors in reply to his messages to us. I give you below for your consideration a suggested text of this joint message. If you agree that a joint message is desirable I hope you will go over most carefully the following pro- posed text and let me have as soon as possible your comments and suggestions so that we can without delay get it off to our Ambassadors for delivery to Stalin. QUOTE. We are sending this joint reply to your messages of April 7 in - 1 - TOP SECRET