Tehran Conference (EUREKA)

73

U.S. State Department (December 1, 1943)

President Roosevelt’s log of the trip

Wednesday, December 1 (at Tehran)
11:30 a.m. The President signed official mail. There were no Congressional matters included in this mail.
11:40 a.m. The President visited the branch post exchange in the Russian Embassy and made several purchases of souvenirs and articles to be used as gifts.
11:50 a.m. A Dr. Millspaugh, an American and the fiscal manager for the Iranian Government, called on the President. Colonel Elliott Roosevelt left Tehran, in his own plane, for Cairo en route to his post of duty in Northwest Africa.
12:00 (noon) The President met with the Prime Minister, Marshal Stalin, Foreign Minister Eden, Ambassador Harriman, Mr. Harry L. Hopkins, Commissar Molotov, Ambassador Sir Archibald Clark Kerr, Major Birse, Mr. Berezhkov and Mr. Bohlen. The meeting was at the Russian Embassy.
1:00 p.m. The President and all those conferring with him since noon had lunch at the Russian Embassy. The party resumed conference discussions immediately after lunch and remained in session until 4:00 p.m., when they adjourned to meet again at 6:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m. The President, the Prime Minister and Marshal Stalin and those conferring with them earlier during the afternoon met again for further discussions. These discussions continued right up until dinner time.
8:30 p.m. The President was host at dinner at the Russian Embassy to all those present at the 6:00 p.m. conference. Conference discussions were resumed after dinner and continued until 10:30 p.m., during which the President, the Prime Minister and Marshal Stalin agreed on a communiqué to be issued to the press after the President’s subsequent departure from Cairo. A copy of this communiqué is appended, marked Appendix “D.”
10:30 p.m. At 10:30 p.m., the President bade the Marshal and other members of the Soviet Delegation goodbye and was whisked away from the Russian Embassy by auto and driven to the nearby U.S. Army Camp Amirabad where he and his party spent the night. We arrived at the camp (Colonels’ quarters D 13-15) at 10:45 p.m. and the President retired shortly thereafter. Camp Amirabad is at the foot of the Elburz Mountains and it was rather cold there. Some of our party required three or more blankets to keep warm that night.
The flight to Tehran from Cairo, and return, had been pronounced practical by Major Bryan provided weather conditions were favorable. During unfavorable conditions clouds over the mountain passes would require flying at elevations higher than Admiral McIntire was willing to have the President and some other members of the party go. Weather reports from the westward had, therefore, been watched carefully throughout our stay at Tehran and fortunately conditions had remained ideal. However this (Wednesday) morning information was received of a cold front passing Cairo, which the local aerologists predicted might blankoff the mountain passes on Friday. It was, therefore, decided to make every effort to complete business on Wednesday in order that the President might leave Tehran Thursday morning. Both the Russian and British groups had to readjust their schedule to carry this out and their willingness to do so was another demonstration of the spirit that animated all conferees to work harmoniously together.
During the forenoon the President autographed a photograph of himself for presentation to the Shah of Iran. The photograph, mounted in a silver frame, was handed to Minister Dreyfus who was requested to make the presentation.
Gifts of American cigarettes and chocolate candy bars were presented to all members of the household staff of the Russian Embassy.
The American and British Chiefs of Staff left Tehran today for return to Cairo, where they were scheduled to resume their conferences. Their party stopped overnight at Jerusalem on the way south. A “Three Power Agreement” (between the United States, Great Britain and Russia) to guarantee Iran’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence was signed at Tehran today by President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill and Marshal Stalin.
74

The victims had been Russians. Not Soviet, not Ukrainians, not Jews. And because of this Russians (Antisemites will know that the Russians had been Ashkenasi) enslaving of Germans is justified. It is UP, not VB, and not Russia Today.

1 Like
75

The Military Agreement 

Tehran, December 1, 1943
Secret

Military Conclusions of the Tehran Conference

The Conference:

  1. Agreed that the Partisans in Yugoslavia should be supported by supplies and equipment to the greatest possible extent, and also by commando operations:

  2. Agreed that, from the military point of view, it was most desirable that Turkey should come into the war on the side of the Allies before the end of the year:

  3. Took note of Marshal Stalin’s statement that if Turkey found herself at war with Germany, and as a result Bulgaria declared war on Turkey or attacked her, the Soviet would immediately be at war with Bulgaria. The Conference further took note that this fact could be explicitly stated in the forthcoming negotiations to bring Turkey into the war:

  4. Took note that Operation OVERLORD would be launched during May 1944, in conjunction with an operation against Southern France. The latter operation would be undertaken in as great a strength as availability of landing-craft permitted. The Conference further took note of Marshal Stalin’s statement that the Soviet forces would launch an offensive at about the same time with the object of preventing the German forces from transferring from the Eastern to the Western Front:

  5. Agreed that the military staffs of the three Powers should henceforward keep in close touch with each other in regard to the impending operations in Europe. In particular it was agreed that a cover plan to mystify and mislead the enemy as regards these operations should be concerted between the staffs concerned.

FDR
ИC
WSC

76

President Roosevelt’s log of the trip

Thursday, December 2 (at Tehran; en route Tehran to Cairo; at Cairo)
8:37 a.m. The President, riding in a jeep, left his quarters at Camp Amirabad to inspect the camp and its personnel. In the jeep with the President was Major General Connolly. The party proceeded to the area in front of the Commanding General’s headquarters, where honors were rendered to the President by an honor company and the post band. From here the President was driven about the camp. The President stopped at the post hospital for a few minutes and, remaining in his jeep, made a few impromptu remarks to a group of Army patients and hospital personnel (approximately 75) who were assembled in front of the hospital. His remarks are appended, marked Appendix “E.” The party then returned to the area in front of the Commanding General’s headquarters, where some 3,000 personnel of Camp Amirabad were drawn up for the President’s inspection. The President’s jeep was driven onto a low platform and, again from his jeep, the President made an impromptu speech to those assembled. A copy of his remarks is appended, marked “F.”
9:10 a.m. On completion of his address, the President departed Camp Amirabad for Gale Morghe Airport. Outside Camp Amirabad the President transferred from the jeep to a staff car for the ride to the airport. Our route from Camp Amirabad to Gale Morghe skirted Tehran to the southward. It was over dirt roads mostly and was very dusty.
9:30 a.m. Arrived Gale Morghe Airport. The President and his party embarked in the planes.
9:46 a.m. The President’s plane departed Tehran for Cairo. In the President’s plane with him were: Mr. Hopkins, Admiral Leahy, Admiral Brown, Admiral McIntire, General Watson, Major Boettiger, Captain Flythe (Medical Corps, USA), Lt-Commander Fox, Lieutenant (jg.) Rigdon, Secret Service Agents Spaman, Fredericks and Spicer, and Steward Prettyman.
12:00 (noon) Our plane passed over Baghdad and circled the city before proceeding on.
3:30 p.m. Our plane crossed over the Suez Canal.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Miscellaneous notes on Tehran

Tehran is the terminus of our Persian Gulf supply line for lend-lease material sent to Russia. Actually it is nearby Kazvin where the supplies are turned over to the Soviets. These supplies are shipped by rail and motor convoy from Abadan and Khorramshahr through Tehran to Kazvin. Planes are assembled at Abadan (on the Persian Gulf) and flown here for delivery to the Soviets. Some few planes are flown from Abadan by Soviet pilots. All movements of planes north from Tehran and supplies north from Kazvin are handled by the Soviets. To date they have been very careful not to permit our men beyond those points.

Our forces here bring in all of their foodstuffs. Nothing is bought locally. This is done because of the extreme scarcity of foodstuffs in Iran and consequently, in order not to deprive the Iranians of what little there is. This practice also helps greatly in keeping retail prices down. There is real inflation prevalent here – automobile tires are reported to be selling for $2,000 each; a “fifth” of whiskey for $40; a cake of toilet soap for 60¢ (United States currency). Even though there was an absence of fresh vegetables, the diet fed us by the Army while in Tehran was most appetizing.

There are two U.S. Army camps located near Tehran – Camp Amirabad and Camp Atterbury. There are approximately 30,000 officers and enlisted men of our Army stationed in the Persian Gulf Service Command, whose headquarters are at Tehran.

Brigadier General Sweet directs the U.S. Army motor truck transport in Iran and Iraq. He keeps the American supplies rolling through to Russia over the trans-Iranian route.

Major General Connolly and Brigadier General Hurley were both on the job constantly during our visit to personally see that the President and members of his party were well cared for.

The following U.S. Army officers, on duty in Tehran area, served as interpreters for our party while we were in Tehran: Major O. Pantuhoff, Major N. E. Mitchell, Captain Charles Berman, and Second Lieutenant Boris Alexander.

The weather during our entire stay in Tehran was delightful. The days were mild and the nights cold. There was no central heating in Tehran. Most of the buildings are heated by portable oil stoves. The Russian Embassy is the only steam-heated building in the city, we were told.

Mount Demavand (Elburz Mountains) near Tehran is 18,456 feet high.

Nice wide streets here. The roadways are paved but most of the sidewalks are not, causing the city to appear very dusty and dirty.

The city’s transportation system was apparently most inadequate. It consisted mainly of a very few small buses, which were invariably packed, and horse-drawn “droshkies” [droshkies].

While in Tehran the President presented autographed photographs (mounted in silver frames) to Marshal Stalin and to the Shah of Iran.

It was most evident that every individual member of our Army stationed in Tehran was delighted at our visit and for the opportunity to discuss home and home folks.

. . . . . .

77

Völkischer Beobachter (December 2, 1943)

Unter dem Druck ihrer militärischen Sorgen –
Der Nervenkrieg soll die Entscheidung bringen

Konferenz der Bluffstrategen in Teheran

vb. Wien, 1. Dezember –
Da die militärische Lage der Raubkoalition an der Ostfront, in Italien und in Ostasien keineswegs den Erwartungen entspricht, die aus den großmäuligen Erklärungen Churchills, Roosevelts und Stalins zur Zeit der Konferenzen von Quebec und Moskau herauszulesen waren, haben sich diese drei Betrüger zu einem neuen Kunstgriff entschlossen: sie nehmen ihre Zuflucht wieder einmal zum Nervenkrieg. Nach Meldungen aus Kairo haben dort Roosevelt und Churchill Besprechungen abgehalten, zu denen auch Tschiangkaischek hinzugezogen wurde. Wie es weiter heißt, werden sie sich nunmehr nach Teheran begeben, um dort oder anderswo mit Stalin zusammenzutreffen.

Die feindliche Agitation bemüht sich schon jetzt, diese Besprechungen als Zeichen der Einigkeit über alle Streitfragen, als Ausgangspunkt neuer militärischer Unternehmungen und nicht zuletzt als Steigerung der Nervenoffensive hinzustellen.

In dieser Hinsicht ist eine Meldung des Stockholmer Svenska Dagbladet bemerkenswert, derzufolge Churchill, Roosevelt und Stalin allen Ernstes einen Aufruf an das deutsche Volk und seine Verbündeten richten wollen, in dem sie naiverweise zum Selbstmord auffordern würden. Dieser Aufruf würde nämlich die „unbedingte Übergabe“ Deutschlands verlangen. Man würde sich also tatsächlich von einer Wiederholung des italienischen Experiments am denkbar untauglichsten Objekt etwas versprechen!

Das deutsche Volk, das sich durch keine Wechselfälle dieses Krieges jemals in seinem Siegesbewußtsein beirren ließ, kann nur darüber lachen, wenn man sich draußen einbildet, sein starkes Herz mit papierenen Kugeln treffen zu können. Wenn der Führer in seiner Münchener Rede versicherte, er werde niemals die Nerven verlieren, so gilt das auch von unserem ganzen Volk, das sich durch den Kriegsverlauf niemals aus der Fassung bringen ließ und erst recht bei den schweren Luftangriffen im letzten Kriegsabschnitt Kaltblütigkeit, Ruhe und nüchternen Verstand behielt und damit auch diese Schrecken zu besiegen wußte.

Daß es dafür um die Nerven auf der Gegenseite um so schlechter steht, dafür ist gerade diese Konferenz ein beredter Beweis. Sie verrät einmal, daß die Moskauer Konferenz keineswegs alle Streitpunkte zwischen diesen drei Partnern ausgeräumt hat und daß sie auf einen Sieg mit den Waffen nicht mehr zu hoffen wagen.

Ihre ganze Hoffnung richtet sich daher auf die Zersetzung des deutschen Kampfwillens, auf eine Generaloffensive gegen die Nerven unseres Volkes, was ein Neuyorker Bericht von Svenska Dagbladet dahin überschreibt, man wolle „psychologische Riesenbomben auf Deutschland werfen.“

Einig und entschlossen im Kampf um unser Leben, unsere Ehre und unsere Zukunft werden wir schon dafür sorgen, daß auch diesmal der feindliche Nervenkrieg nur die ohnehin schon überreizten Nerven ihrer Urheber belastet und zum Zerreißen bringt. Im übrigen werden auch hier Roosevelt und Churchill nur Handlanger Stalins sein, dem sie schon auf der Moskauer Konferenz Europa, das ihnen gar nicht gehört, zu Füßen, legten. Es ist bezeichnend, daß gerade jetzt der Bankrotteur Benesch in Moskau einen Vertrag unterschreiben will, durch den er sich und seinesgleichen dem absoluten Gebot Moskaus unterwirft, daß also Stalin bereits dazu übergeht, Vasallen heranzukommandieren, die als erste bolschewisiert werden sollen.

Stalin weiß wohl ganz genau, daß seine ganzen Bemühungen, die englisch-amerikanische Beihilfe zu seinen Plänen zu erhalten, praktisch überhaupt nichts bedeuten, da ihnen die Ostfront den Weg nach Europa versperrt und die deutsche Wehrmacht auch Briten und Amerikaner energisch in Schach hält. Auch er hat daher das größte Interesse daran, durch einen Nervenkrieg zu versuchen, was auf dem Schlachtfeld nicht gelingt, zumal er aus zwingenden Gründen immer wieder sehr dringlich betont hat, daß die Sowjets unbedingt den Krieg schnell zu Ende bringen müßten. Die Nervenoffensive richtet sich also keineswegs nur gegen Deutschland, sondern sie zielt darüber hinaus darauf ab, Europa dem bolschewistischen Einbruch zu ebnen und damit den Sieg der bolschewistischen Weltrevolution auch über die drei Bundesgenossen zu entscheiden, mit denen sich Stalin jetzt trifft.

78

The Pittsburgh Press (December 2, 1943)

BIG THREE MAP HITLER’S DOOM; JAPAN TO LOSE HER EMPIRE
Program to crush Tokyo’s power is drafted at parley in Africa

Joseph Stalin, President Roosevelt and Winston Churchill were reported drafting the obituary of Nazi Germany in Tehran today in a conference paralleling that in Cairo where plans were agreed upon for stripping Japan of her empire and forcing her unconditional surrender.

Unofficial reports circulated that the leaders of Russia, the United States and Great Britain were framing an ultimatum to Germany demanding immediate capitulation on pain of progressively severe terms.

Congressional quarters in Washington accepted as completely factual the reports that Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill had proceeded to Tehran to meet Stalin after their meeting in Cairo with Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek of China.

A subsidiary conference in Cairo on Mediterranean strategy under Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower gave rise to reports of plans for a new invasion of Southern Europe, perhaps in the Balkans.

Stalin attends new session

By Edward W. Beattie, United Press staff writer

London, England –
President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill and Premier Stalin were reported conferring in Tehran today and observers believed they were mapping a post-war program to “quarantine” Germany and saddle her manpower, raw materials and production for rebuilding stricken Europe.

Through such a program, observers were convinced, the “Big Three” Allied Western powers plan to punish Germany and smash her ability to make future wars as completely as Mr. Roosevelt, Mr. Churchill and Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek plotted the crushing of Japan in Cairo.

No confirmation

There was no official confirmation of the whereabouts of Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill since their departure from Cairo for an “unknown destination” following the Anglo-American-Chinese Conference, but a dispatch in a Lisbon newspaper reported they had already begun conversations with Premier Stalin in Tehran, capital of Iran. The Ankara radio also said that Stalin and Mr. Roosevelt were in Tehran.

Laurence Steinhardt, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, was also reported by Lisbon to have flown to Tehran. There has been widespread speculation that the Allies may prevail upon Turkey to grant them bases for an Anglo-American invasion to liberate the Balkans in conjunction with a Soviet drive from southern Ukraine.

If later developments confirm Stalin’s presence at a conference with Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill, it will be the first time in 31 years that the Soviet leader has left the borders of Russia.

Terms for Nazis

“Second-front” considerations were expected to play little part in any Roosevelt-Churchill-Stalin meeting, since it can be assumed that Anglo-American plans for an invasion of Western Europe at the earliest possible moment are already well advanced.

The three heads of state will probably fix the approximate terms for Germany’s unconditional surrender and post-war treatment so that the Allies will not be caught without adequate plans in the event of Germany’s sudden and unexpected collapse from within, as they were when Italy surrendered.

The conferees may frame an ultimatum demanding Germany’s immediate capitulation on pain of increasingly severe terms if the Germans persist in their policy of scorched-earth retreats.

Plans for new war?

The German plan appears to be to denude occupied Europe of all its able-bodied manpower by murder, maiming and sterilization to delay its recovery and give Germany a head start in preparations for a new world war 10-15 years hence.

To speed the rehabilitation of occupied countries and at the same time prevent Germany from preparing for another war, Mr. Roosevelt, Mr. Churchill and Premier Stalin were expected to seek to “quarantine” the Reich by a strict system of controls that will occupy all her manpower, materials and production in repairing the destruction the Germans have wrought.

Italians ‘hopeful’ over conferences

Berne, Switzerland –
In those circles of northern Italy loyal to the government of Pietro Badoglio, hopeful eyes are turned today toward the reported Middle Eastern conference of Allied leaders.

These circles are hoping that the meetings will serve to alter radically the Italian situation and lead to Balkan operations which would relieve Italy of the horrors of war.

With a touch of wishful thinking, these Italians are convinced that Russia will now “authorize” Balkan operations, providing the Russian Army takes an active part in them. Such troops would pass through the Dardanelles – with the sanction of Turkey.

79

U.S. State Department (December 3, 1943)

The Third Secretary of Embassy in Iran to Brigadier General Hurley’s aide

Tehran, December 3, 1943

Major Henry: So far as my knowledge runs, the following are the main facts in connection with the “Declaration by Three Nations Regarding Iran:”

A) Prime Minister Ali Soheily spoke to Mr. Eden and Minister Dreyfus, separately, on the morning of November 29 and requested that the conference issue a joint communiqué regarding Iran, to cover three main points:

  1. Allied recognition that Iran had given every possible help in the prosecution of the war.

  2. Confirmation of the pledges given in the Anglo-Soviet-Iranian treaty of alliance of January 29, 1942 regarding the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iran.

  3. Assurance that the economic needs of Iran would be considered when the peace treaty should be negotiated.

According to Soheily, Mr. Eden had indicated his agreement in principle but had asked that he approach the American Minister and the Soviet representatives to determine their attitude.

B) Minister Dreyfus informed General Hurley, who immediately saw the President about it. The President approved the idea and asked General Hurley to see Mr. Eden and Mr. Molotov and try to get their agreement.

C) I showed General Hurley a rough draft of a declaration which I had worked up in anticipation that the question might be broached at the conference, and he suggested certain changes. I then prepared a shorter draft, which was submitted to General Hurley and which eventually became the basis for the final declaration.

D) General Hurley saw Mr. Eden on November 30, and they agreed that a declaration would be desirable, but that the Iranians should be told they must endeavor to get Soviet consent. The same evening, the Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammed Saed, told Minister Dreyfus that Marshal Stalin and M. Molotov had agreed in principle. (This, however, does not check with Molotov’s own non-committal remarks to General Hurley the next day.)

E) On December 1, General Hurley saw the President and told him that British agreement had been obtained but that the Soviets were doubtful. He asked the President to speak to Marshal Stalin. The President did so and told General Hurley afterwards that he had made a strong personal request and that Stalin had consented.

F) On the afternoon of December 1, the short draft which General Hurley had approved was shown to Ambassador Harriman, who made some slight changes and then got the OK of Mr. Hopkins. Copies of the corrected draft were sent to Mr. Eden and Mr. Molotov immediately. Just before dinner, the draft was considered by the conference and was accepted with two or three additional minor changes in wording. It was signed by Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt, in that order, at the end of the final session that night.

G) Minister Dreyfus had informed Saed that the matter was being considered, and had given him a copy of our original draft. As soon as the final session of the conference ended, the Minister and General Hurley went to the Foreign Office and showed the Foreign Minister the text which had been signed. After consulting with the Prime Minister by telephone, Saed said the text was acceptable and initialed a copy. He agreed not to release it until the general release on the conference should be made.

So far as I know, neither the British nor the Russians took any initiative in the matter at any time, although the British were obviously favorably disposed from the beginning. I am quite sure that neither of them prepared a draft. There is no doubt that it was only General Hurley’s interest in the matter, and especially his intervention with the President and the latter’s intervention with Stalin, which prevented the proposal from being blocked or ignored by the chiefs of government and their immediate entourages.

Of course, we could not put much of the foregoing into the press release. One point which might be stressed is that the Iranian Government was kept informed and that the declaration had its full approval. I am not sure that it would be a good idea to say that the Iranian Government made the original suggestion. That might be checked first with the British and Russians and then with the Foreign Minister. If they think it advisable, I see no objection.

I think the Minister should see the press release before it is put into final form.

JOHN D. JERNEGAN

80 
891.00/2070: Telegram

The Minister in Iran to the Secretary of State 

Tehran, December 3, 1943 — 1 p.m.
1086.

December 1 a declaration was signed here in which United States, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Great Britain stated mutual agreement regarding policy toward Iran containing following points.

  • One. Three powers recognize Iranian contribution to war effort against common enemy.

  • Two. They realize war has caused special economic difficulties in Iran. Three powers express their intent to continue to provide such economic assistance as they are able.

  • Three. Three powers agree that Iranian postwar economic problems should receive full consideration by international agencies and conferences which may be created or held to deal with such matters.

  • Four. They reaffirm their desire for maintenance of sovereign independence and territorial integrity of Iran according to Atlantic Charter. Text has been submitted to Iran Government which has declared it acceptable. It is understood publicity will be withheld until December 6 when full text will be released. Issuance of declaration along these lines was requested by Iranian Prime Minister November 29. The President approved and directed General Hurley to obtain consent of other parties, which he and the Legation working together were able to do. Hurley and I feel that this has strengthened United States position in Iran and should have beneficent effect.

DREYFUS

81

The Pittsburgh Press (December 3, 1943)

‘BIG THREE’ MAP ULTIMATUM TO NAZIS
‘Surrender or die’ note being drawn

Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin draft warning in Iran talks
By Robert Dowson, United Press staff writer

London, England –
An Istanbul dispatch passed by the British censorship said today that President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill and Premier Stalin, in conference in Iran, were drafting an ultimatum to Germany to surrender unconditionally or suffer total destruction by bombing.

The dispatch, bearing the censorship notation, “passed for publication,” was carried by the British Exchange Telegraph Agency and said that, accor4ding to news from Ankara, the “Big Three” had begun their historic conference at Tabriz, 350 miles northwest of Tehran and only 60 miles south of the Russian Caucasian border.

The German DNB News Agency broadcast a report attributed to Lisbon that the conference opened on Nov. 28 and was ending today. DNB said:

The main point is to appeal to the German people to surrender unconditionally and remove the Nazi leadership.

Montgomery mentioned

A broadcast by the Nazi Vichy radio also said the meeting had begun at Tabriz and asserted that Messrs. Roosevelt and Churchill were accompanied by Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery, commander of the British 8th Army now in Italy.

There has been widespread speculation that the three heads of state would discuss details of an Allied squeeze on the Balkans with British and possibly U.S. troops hopping off from Italy, the Levant or Africa and the Red Army thrusting from the east.

Gen. Montgomery’s troops now hold Bari and Brindisi, the two main ports in southeastern Italy from which Italy began her invasions of Yugoslavia, Albania and Greece.

Eisenhower confers

Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander in the Mediterranean, presided over a meeting of some of his Mediterranean staff in Egypt immediately following the Roosevelt-Churchill-Chiang conference, but there has been no confirmation that Gen. Montgomery was present.

A United Press dispatch from Ankara said the newspaper Ulus, organ of the Republican People’s Party, was speculating that the Anglo-American-Russian conference would have “even greater echoes” than the Roosevelt-Churchill meetings in Casablanca and Québec.

May ask Turkish bases

Neutral Turkey may be drawn into the war by an Allied request for the use of bases from which to bomb and perhaps invade Greece or Bulgaria.

There were reports that the American and British leaders may ask Stalin for the use of Russian bases for their steady blasting of Nazi targets.

Nazis expect demand

The Germans, anticipating a possible tri-power demand for their surrender, were already warning that they would never give in to the Allies.

Propaganda Minister Paul Joseph Goebbels set the pace by asserting in his publication Das Reich that “one may have to suffer blows, but one must never give in.”

He said:

That nation will be victorious which does not carry the white flag of surrender in its baggage.

The newspaper Zwölf Uhr Blatt, in a similar vein, declared:

One hundred million Germans are welded through life and death in unity and would rather be torn to pieces for the Führer than to make the tiniest concessions to the enemy.

Connally ‘explains’ conference site

Fort Worth, Texas (UP) –
President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill carried the tripartite conference to Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin “because he is actively directing his armies in the field,” Senator Tom Connally (D-TX) said last night.

The Senator said:

They carried the conference to Stalin because he is actively directing his armies and it was necessary to make it as handy as possible to his headquarters.

82

Völkischer Beobachter (December 4, 1943)

Die drei Weltgangster tagten in Täbris

Noch keine Einigung über den ‚Aufruf an die Völker Europas‘

dnb. Lissabon, 3. Dezember –
Wie aus Kreisen der Reuter-Vertretung in Lissabon verlautet, wurde die Konferenz zwischen Stalin, Churchill und Roosevelt im sowjetrussischen Okkupationsgebiet des Irans heute beendet. Die Konferenz, die mit gigantischen Sicherungsmaßnahmen hinter Stacheldraht und Minenfeldern stattfand, hatte am 28. November begonnen.

An dem Kommuniqué, dessen Mittelpunkt der bereits gemeldete naive Propagandabluff eines Aufrufs an das deutsche Volk und seine Verbündeten bilden soll, sich bedingungslos der Willkür Stalins, Roosevelts und Churchills auszuliefern und sich von ihren Regierungen zu trennen, wird noch gearbeitet, da die widerstreitenden Interessen der Konferenzteilnehmer die Abfassung des Kommuniqués offenbar schwierig gestalten.

Es ist überaus bezeichnend, daß die drei plutokratisch-bolschewistischen Weltgangster die nordwestpersische Stadt Täbris als Schauplatz für ihren Weltpropagandabluff gewählt haben. Offenbar ist es Churchill und Roosevelt nicht gelungen, den Genossen Stalin an einen Platz zu locken, der nicht unmittelbar unter bolschewistischer Herrschaft seht. Stalin seinerseits hat die beiden westlichen Kumpane nach Täbris beordert, jener unglücklichen Stadt im iranischen Teil von Aserbeidschan, die vor zwei Jahren von den Bolschewisten besetzt wurde und unter dem Terror der GPU seitdem Furchtbares erlitten hat.

Diese Ortswahl ist symbolisch. Sie beweist, wer in diesem sauberen Triumvirat den Ton angibt. Daß auch der großmäulige Roosevelt den weiten Weg bis in diesen Winkel Vorderasiens machen mußte, um von dem Tyrannen des Moskauer Kreml Wahlhilfe für seine vierte Präsidentschaftsperiode zu erbetteln, ist von besonderer Pikanterie.

Noch knobeln die drei an ihrem Kommuniqué, das bekanntlich der Höhepunkt des Nervenkrieges gegen die Festung Europa und Ostasien werden soll. Gewitzigt durch die Panne von Kairo, wo Reuter die Katze zu früh aus dem Sack ließ, hofft man diesmal den Knalleffekt besser zu erzielen. Aber die drei großen Gauner sind nun einmal schlechte Regisseure. Sie verraten mit ihrem Zögern nur die widerstreitenden Interessen, die sie für ihren Hausbedarf verfolgen, und bringen sich um den gewünschten Überraschungserfolg. Allzu genau weiß die ganze Welt, welche Zwecke das Manöver verfolgt. Es geht ihnen einzig und allein darum, durch gespielte Siegeszuversicht und plumpe Drohungen und Lockungen die Völker Europas und Ostasiens darüber hinwegzutäuschen, daß sie keine Mittel und Wege wissen, den militärischen Sieg sicherzustellen.

Die jüdischen Trompeten von Jericho sollen erreichen, was weder die Luftgangster der Plutokratien noch das Kanonenfutter der Sowjetsklaven zuwege bringen!

vb.

83

U.S. State Department (December 4, 1943)

The agreed text of the communiqué

December 4, 1943

To be released to the Press,
8:00 p.m. Moscow Time,
December 6, 1943

Declaration of the Three Powers

WE – The President of the United States, The Prime Minister of Great Britain, and the Premier of the Soviet Union, have met these four days past in this, the capital of our ally, Iran, and have shaped and confirmed our common policy.

We express our determination that our nations shall work together in war and in the peace that will follow.

As to war – Our military staffs have joined in our round table discussions, and we have concerted our plans for the destruction of the German forces. We have reached complete agreement as to the scope and timing of the operations which will be undertaken [operations to be undertaken] from the East, West and South.

The common understanding which we have here reached guarantees that victory will be ours.

And as to peace – we are sure that our concord will make it an enduring peace [our concord will win an enduring peace]. We recognize fully the supreme responsibility resting upon us and all the United Nations, to make a peace which will command the good will of the overwhelming mass of the peoples of the world, and banish the scourge and terror of war for many generations.

With our diplomatic advisers we have surveyed the problems of the future. We shall seek the cooperation and the active participation of all nations, large and small, whose peoples in heart and mind are dedicated, as are our own peoples, to the elimination of tyranny and slavery, oppression and intolerance. We will welcome them, as they may choose to come, into a world family of democratic nations.

No power on earth can prevent our destroying the German armies by land, their U-boats by sea, and their war plants from the air.

Our attack will be relentless and increasing.

Emerging from these friendly [cordial] conferences we look with confidence to the day when all peoples of the world may live free lives, untouched by tyranny, and according to their varying desires and their own consciences.

We came here with hope and determination. We leave here, friends in fact, in spirit and in purpose.

Signed at Tehran, Iran, December 1, 1943
F. D. ROOSEVELT
J. STALIN
W. CHURCHILL

Text agreed to by the PM & the Marshal WAH

84 
740.0011 EW 1939/32185: Telegram

The Counselor of Embassy in the United Kingdom to the Secretary of State 

London, December 4, 1943
8476.

Announcement by Moscow radio of Tehran conference is carried in late editions of this morning’s London papers, but last not received in time for editorial comment. Speculative stories during past two days had been largely based on German press and radio campaign to prepare enemy populations for anticipated news of meeting. Senator Connally’s speech at Fort Worth was also widely reported.

BUCKNELL

85 
740.0011 EW 1939/32362a: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union

Washington, December 4, 1943 — midnight

Confidential (part restricted)
1342–1344.

Morning press in the United States headlined stories from London that the Moscow radio had announced in an official Soviet news agency broadcast for provincial Russian papers that:

A few days ago, in Tehran, a conference took place between the leaders of the three Allied powers, President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill and Premier Stalin. Diplomatic and military representatives took part in the conference.

At the conference, questions on the conduct of the war against Germany were discussed as well as a number of political questions.

Corresponding decisions were adopted which will be made public later.

No word having been received in this country of the conclusion of the conference and there being nothing to announce in the United States, the publication in Moscow has created a furor in the press. OWI Director Elmer Davis has requested the Department to ascertain the circumstances of the announcement and particularly whether this was a violation of any release date agreed upon by the conferees. We had all assumed that an arrangement would be made for simultaneous publication in the USSR, Great Britain and the United States but so far have no definite information about such an arrangement. Any information you are able to send us about the Moscow broadcast will assist greatly.

HULL

86

The President’s Secretary to the President’s special assistant 

Washington, 4 December 1943

For Mr. Hopkins from Mr. Early.

All press and radio here headline today Moscow radio reports received via London that Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin had met in Tehran few days ago and discussed questions related to war against Germany and including political war issues. The reports added that the conferences have been concluded and detailed statement is expected momentarily. This comes from the government-controlled Moscow radio and further complicates the situation resulting from the British Reuters premature disclosures concerning Cairo conference. If mechanically possible and in face of these developments, I urge quickest possible release and publication of Tehran communiqué. Regards.

87 
740.0011 EW 1939/32176: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union to the Secretary of State

Moscow, December 4, 1943

U.S. urgent
2113.

The Roosevelt-Stalin-Churchill conference in Tehran is reported in the Moscow newspapers for December 4 in the following TASS dispatch datelined Tehran December 3.

A few days ago, in Tehran, a conference took place between the leaders of the three Allied powers, President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill and Premier Stalin. Diplomatic and military representatives took part in the conference.

At the conference, questions on the conduct of the war against Germany were discussed as well as a number of political questions.

Corresponding decisions were adopted which will be made public later.

HARRIMAN

88

The Director of the Office of War Information to the Director of the London Bureau of the Office of War Information 

Washington, December 4, 1943

Secret
Rapid

Please transmit following to Bracken: Now that the Russians have set us both back on our tails perhaps we can get together on some measures to prevent repetition of these deplorable incidents. I have asked State Department to make inquiries in Moscow as to how this Russian thing happened and whether it broke an agreed release date, on which latter point I am not yet informed. Meanwhile I am meeting with Price and Early and hope we can agree on some ideas for improved arrangements which will be forwarded for your comment. Eventually we may perhaps be able to agree with information agencies of other governments on program which can be made as a united recommendation to our principals. Regarding Connally, he does not appear to have said anything more than was contained in Reuters Lisbon story and other speculations earlier in the week. I share your wish that all rumors and conjectures on such meetings could be silenced but doubt if it could be done by domestic censorship in either country since we cannot control the enemy. All we can hope to do is to refrain from giving his speculations confirmation. Hope that we shall be able to concur in recommendations which will avert these painful episodes in future. End message to Bracken; remainder for Carroll. Sorry you have had to be in the front line and take the heat in this matter but believe Russian performance will measurably reduce inflammation of Anglo-American relations. Also may have salutary effect of persuading our betters to consult their hired experts on such matters hereafter.

89

The Pittsburgh Press (December 4, 1943)

Iran parley finished by ‘Big Three’

Ultimatum and plans for invasion believed approved
By Edward W. Beattie, United Press staff writer

Russians surprised by news of parley

Moscow, USSR (UP) –
The Russian people got one of their greatest surprises of the war today when they learned that Premier Joseph Stalin had gone to Tehran to confer with President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

Although such a conference had been a matter of common gossip at every gathering of foreign diplomats and correspondents for two weeks, the Russians had no inkling of it.

The first public report of the conference was a broadcast of an official TASS News Agency dispatch, which all Moscow newspapers published on their front pages today.

London, England –
President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill and Premier Stalin were revealed today to have concluded a conference in Tehran, Iran, at which they probably put the final stamp of approval on plans for an invasion of Western Europe and the complete defeat of Germany sometime next year.

A communiqué was expected momentarily that will call upon Axis Europe to “yield or die” and proclaim Germany’s post-war fate in broad terms that become increasingly stringent for every additional month she resists.

The communiqué will probably touch off an explosive crisis in the Balkans, perhaps leading to the early collapse of Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria, and hasten Germany’s doom.

Broadcast by TASS

The first authentic details of the “Big Three” conference, about which the whole world has been speculating for nearly a month, were disclosed by the official Russian news agency TASS early today in a transmission over the Moscow radio for Russian provincial newspapers. The TASS dispatch was later repeated in the Moscow home broadcasts.

The dispatch said:

A few days ago, a conference of the three leaders of the Allied powers – President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill and Premier Stalin – occurred in Tehran.

Diplomatic and military representatives participated in the conference, at which problems of the warfare against Germany were discussed, as well as a series of political questions.

Decisions were taken which will be published.

Though TASS did not indicate the duration of the conference, the Berlin radio guessed that it began Nov. 28 – two days after the conclusion of the Roosevelt-Churchill-Chiang Kai-shek “crush Japan” meeting in Cairo – and ended yesterday.

London sources believed military discussions were confined largely to formal approval of Anglo-American plans for an invasion of Western Europe at the earliest possible moment in conjunction with an intensified Red Army drive from the east and possibly a thrust into the Balkans.

Says Montgomery present

There have been repeated rumors that the Allies were on the point of invading the Balkans from Italy, Africa or a Cyprus with a possibility that Turkey may be drawn into the war under her mutual-assistance alliance with Britain to provide additional bases for the assault.

Nazi broadcasts have suggested that Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery, commander of Britain’s 8th Army, now in southern Italy attended the conference.

However, most observers were convinced that political discussions dominated the Tehran Conference.

Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria have previously been reported extending peace feelers to the Allies and informed sources believed they stand ready to withdraw from the war at the first opportunity.

These quarters doubted that similar quick results can be expected in Germany, however, even though the three heads of state might explain that early capitulation would ease though never avert their punishment.

Presumably, Messrs. Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin will propose the quarantining of Germany in post-war Europe and the shackling of her manpower and industries to prevent any preparation for another world war.

The situation inside Germany was obscured by a flood of propaganda which on one side emphasized the Reich’s desperate situation and on the other side asserted that the country will never yield.

While the German people under Nazi rule may be in no position to assert themselves, the army, with the support of old-line conservatives who have already recognized the certainty of defeat, might during the next three months build up a coup.

First trip in 30 years

Premier Stalin’s trip to Tehran marked the first time in more than 30 years that he has gone outside of Russia’s borders. It was his first meeting with Mr. Roosevelt, though Mr. Churchill previously journeyed to Moscow to confer with the Soviet Premier.

Disclosure by TASS that the conference had been held was taken as an indication here that Premier Stalin had returned to Moscow and that Messrs. Roosevelt and Churchill had left Tehran.

The Berlin radio, in its overseas service, predicted that the conference would result in a demand for Germany’s surrender and promptly rejected it.

Davis takes action on Soviet ‘scoop’

Washington (UP) –
Elmer Davis, director of the Office of War Information, announced today that he has asked the State Department to make inquiries in Moscow concerning last night’s announcement by TASS, the official Soviet news agency, about the “Big Three” conference in Tehran.

He sought information particularly as to whether the TASS announcement was a violation of any release date agreed upon by the conferees.

The TASS announcement – the first official confirmation of the meeting of President Roosevelt, Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin and Prime Minister Winston Churchill – marked the second time this week that this government’s official news sources had been left at the post on international conference news.

White House Secretary Stephen T. Early said the Moscow announcement of the Tehran Conference last night was a surprise as far as the White House staff was concerned.

Mr. Davis repeated a statement made last night that TASS’ publication of news of the conference emphasized the need of precise and binding agreements between the representatives of all interested governments to assure fair handling and simultaneous release of such news in all countries.

He said he would consult with Brendan Bracken, head of the British Ministry of Information – and with information agencies of other governments as occasion requires – concerning measures which may be recommended to their superiors to prevent repetition of “such incidents which cause a quite avoidable international irritation.”

Landon asks caution on Moscow pacts

Washington (UP) –
Former Governor Alfred M. Landon of Kansas told Republicans today that GOP endorsement of the “so-called agreements” reached in Moscow before they are precisely defined would be “reckless and shortsighted” and “disastrous for the country.”

Addressing a luncheon meeting of Republican junior senators, the 1936 Republican presidential candidate coupled denunciation of the administration’s “uncertain” foreign policy with a proposal that “real Democrats” join Republicans in drafting legislation to keep “arrogant and strutting bureaucrats within due bounds of the law.”

Mr. Landon said Republicans should reject suggestions that both parties adopt in their 1944 platforms “similar declarations on foreign policy.”

He asserted:

Such a course would accelerate the danger of a drift towards one party in our country.

Expressing fear that the Moscow declarations “settled little outside of the military arrangements,” Mr. Landon said there was no assurance that Russia agreed with the non-aggrandizement principles of the Atlantic Charter.

90

Völkischer Beobachter (December 5, 1943)

Von Kairo bis Teheran –
Das anglo-amerikanische Verräterspiel

b—r. Bern, 4. Dezember –
Durch eine Samstag vormittag in Moskau ausgegebene Mitteilung wurde nun offiziell bestätigt, daß in Teheran, der Hauptstadt Irans, eine Zusammenkunft zwischen Stalin, Roosevelt und Churchill stattgefunden habe. Diplomatische und militärische Vertreter der drei beteiligten Mächte hätten an der Konferenz teilgenommen. Fragen der Kriegführung gegen Deutschland und auch eine Reihe politischer Fragen seien besprochen worden. Die Entscheidungen würden später veröffentlicht werden.

Man ist also mit den abschließenden Formulierungen, die man sicherlich als Wochenendsensation herausgeben wollte, nicht rechtzeitig fertig geworden. Bei aller Gemeinsamkeit des Vernichtungswillens gegen Deutschland haben sich die realen Interessengegensätze wohl kaum als gering erwiesen. So hat man sich zunächst mit einem nichtssagenden Vorbericht begnügt, der der anglo-amerikanischen Presse noch keine festen Grundlagen für ihre politischen Spekulationen gibt. Sie muß sich begnügen, darauf hinzuweisen, daß Stalin anläßlich dieser Konferenz zum erstenmal seit der russischen Revolution den Boden der Sowjetunion verlassen hat. Freilich hat er, wie hinzuzufügen ist, sich nur eine beschiedene Strecke weit außer Landes begeben und die beiden Anglo-Amerikaner haben ihn den weitaus größten Teil des Weges entgegenkommen müssen. Die Wahl des von den Sowjets besetzten Teiles von Iran für die Konferenz ist selbstverständlich auf das Sicherheitsbedürfnis Stalins zurückzuführen. Dieser hätte sich nie darauf eingelassen, sich an einen Ort zu begeben, wo er sich nicht durch seine eigene GPU.-Leibwache schützen lassen könnte.

91

U.S. State Department (December 5, 1943)

891.00/2068: Telegram

The Minister in Iran to the Secretary of State

Tehran, December 5, 1943 — 4 p.m.
1090.

Persian language newspaper Friend of Iran published by (reference my 1086, December 3) Soviet Embassy press section this morning carried full text of declaration regarding Iran signed here December 1.

So far as I know, no other Tehran morning pa per published text of referred to declaration in any way. However, upon learning of its publication in Soviet paper, Prime Minister Soheily this morning released it to Tehran press and it will undoubtedly appear in all afternoon newspapers.

General Hurley and I had understood definitely that no release was to be made by anyone until 8 tomorrow night, Moscow time, and neither the British nor ourselves had released anything regarding the conference or the declaration on Iran. We shall still delay until tomorrow in accordance with instructions.

Repeated to Moscow and Cairo.

DREYFUS

92

The Pittsburgh Press (December 5, 1943)

‘Big Three’ to reveal decisions Monday

Speediest defeat of Nazis mapped by Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin
By the United Press

A special communiqué giving further details of what President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill and Premier Stalin decided at their conference in Tehran last week will be released officially at 1:00 p.m. ET Monday afternoon.

Meanwhile, reports given out by TASS, the official Russian news agency, together with diplomatic speculation in other Allied capitals, disclosed that the discussions included both military and political matters.

The general military objective of the three great powers, it was said, will be to bring about the speediest possible defeat of Germany and the taking of measures to see that she does not rebuild her war machine in the future.

The German radio reported that President İsmet İnönü of Turkey, accompanied by political and military advisors, had left Saturday for Cairo to confer with Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill.

Face shuttle bombing

The assertion of some Washington observers that Germany would soon be subjected to a shuttle bombing, with Anglo-American heavy bombers utilizing Russian airdromes, was believed to presage military collaboration on a scale not heretofore seen in this war between the Eastern and Western Allies.

Russian sources in London have given a hint of the Russian post-war plan in the scheme to drive millions of German men for the reconstruction of the Russian areas which the Germans have laid waste during their slow retreat westward.

To speed attack

Whatever else the Stalin-Roosevelt-Churchill conference may produce in the way of agreement, there seemed no question that the present campaign of the Anglo-American armies in Italy would soon gain momentum, possibly pushing the Germans north of Rome by the first of the new year; that the Russians would soon launch new efforts to thrust the Germans beyond the Dniester River (border of Romania) and to free the Baltic states (Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia); and that the long-heralded Anglo-American invasion of Western Europe would not be long in coming.

The London Times said editorially Saturday that the conference is:

…the major event of the war and will doubtless put the copingstone upon a vast military effort for the overthrow of Germany to which the grand alliance stands committed.

The London Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent wrote that the Allied leaders had now rounded off their plans for all fronts, “coordinating strategy and timetables.”

Read with emphasis

The United Press listening post in London reported that the Russians showed every indication of taking the forthcoming announcement as of prime importance. The announcer of Radio Moscow read the brief news bulletin on the TASS dispatch with great emphasis. The broadcast was repeated several times to reach all elements in the country, a rare procedure reserved usually for announcements by Marshal Stalin.

The brief announcement by the Russian radio was expected to have a great impact upon Germany’s discouraged satellites – Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary.

Nazis won’t crack quickly

Informed persons doubted that Monday’s announcement by the three leaders would mean an immediate crackup in the German war effort despite rumored peace feelers by so-called conservative Germans. However, the satellites are so shaky that an early crisis in Eastern Europe was seen as a distinct possibility.

The situation within Germany itself is obscured by a flood of propaganda which on the one side emphasizes the desperate situation confronting the Reich and on the other asserts that the “unbreakable determination of the German people will never yield.”

Can’t hide successes

But no propaganda can hide the success of the Russians in the east, which is soon to become even more of a German disaster when the Russians begin to roll forward on frozen soil. The attack in Italy is soon expected to become a general offensive for Rome and that too cannot be hidden from the German people.

The German people will receive any Allied proclamation with the realization that they have only two choices – to surrender or face having their cities devastated one by one.

Round-the-world reaction to the Moscow announcement:

WASHINGTON: Director of OWI Elmer Davis announced that he has asked the State Department to make inquiries in Moscow concerning the announcement by TASS, the official Soviet news agency, about the “Big Three” conference.

LONDON: Newspapers, commenting on the Moscow announcement, said the three leaders had been legislating for victory and that the conference would be a final and decisive blow to Hitler’s hopes of splitting the Allies.

MOSCOW: Pravda printed the TASS announcement on its main front page column, usually reserved for items of the utmost importance.

STOCKHOLM: Swedish quarters believed the conference would result in a statement regarding Allied plans for dealing with Germany similar to those announced after the Cairo Conference with regard to Japan.

TURKEY: Radio Ankara said the meeting was “warmly commented on in the Turkish press,” according to a CBS pickup.

Every Turkish newspaper is praising it and emphasizing the great importance that the three leaders met.

BERLIN: The Berlin radio said:

The premature announcement by Moscow of the conclusion of the Tehran meeting came for the American information service as a bolt from the blue. Thus, once again a bomb exploded too early. The barbed wire, which both in Cairo and Tehran, separated hermetically the conferees from the outer world, could not prevent premature explosions, thus depriving propaganda bombs aimed at Japan and Germany of their detonation power.