Tehran Conference (EUREKA)

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.

93

Plan to invade facing discard

Army and Navy Register says it depends on parley
By Merriman Smith, United Press staff writer

Washington – (Dec. 4)
Decisions reached by President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Premier Joseph Stalin in Tehran – the conference on which a Soviet news agency scooped the world – may make an Allied invasion of Western Europe unnecessary, the Army and Navy Register said today.

What decisions the three Allied leaders made have not yet been officially disclosed, but Russia’s TASS Agency stated unequivocally that agreement was reached on both military and political moves for destroying Germany as war-making power.

Upon these decisions “and the results thereof in the next few weeks or months,” the unofficial Army and Navy Register said in an editorial, will depend the “necessity for invasion.”

Cites ‘future events’

The service publication added:

Near future events may avoid the necessity of invasion, and that is a consummation devoutly wished for.

European reports of a “momentary” official communiqué on the three-power conference to the contrary, responsible officials here thought the announcement was not particularly imminent. This situation seemed to stem from security considerations and an effort to protect the principals while they are in transit.

Meanwhile, Director Elmer Davis of the Office of War Information, smarting under the second foreign scoop in a week on a war conference, asked the State Department:

…to make inquiries in Moscow as to the circumstances of publication by the Russian government agency of news of a conference at Tehran and whether such publication was violation of any agreed release date.

Earlier in the week, the British Reuters News Agency reported the Roosevelt-Churchill-Chiang Kai-shek meeting in Cairo before American newsmen were permitted to release the story.

Cites Marshall transfer

The Army and Navy Register did not elaborate its remarks except to say:

In the event an assault invasion, as distinguished from mere military occupation, becomes unnecessary, there would seem to be no reason to transfer Gen. Marshall from his present place as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army to a high command in the European Theater, unless his administrative genius is needed for the meeting of the tremendous problems that will confront the occupation commander.

Gen. Marshall has long been believed to be the United Nations’ choice as commander to lead any cross-Channel invasion of Western Europe. The American staff chief accompanied President Roosevelt to the Cairo and Tehran meetings. Whatever decisions were reached, the Register said, he probably will not return here with the President.

94

Völkischer Beobachter (December 6, 1943)

Der ‚psychologische Hammerschlag‘ ging daneben –
Europa erkennt den großen jüdischen Bluff

Wien, 5. Dezember –
Das große Bluffschaustück, das uns der Feind in Ägypten und Iran vor zuführen gedachte, ist zu einer lächerlichen Komödie geworden. Die Akteure haben sich bei dem „psychologischen Hammerschlag auf die deutsche Kriegsmoral“ auf die eigenen Finger gehauen. Erst mehrere Tage nach Beendigung der Konferenz in dem von den Sowjets besetzten Iran erhielt die Welt aus dem alliierten Lager überhaupt erst Kunde davon, daß diese Konferenz statt­ gefunden hat. Dabei gab Reuter nicht einmal eine eigene Meldung, sondern übernahm wortwörtlich die deutsche Meldung.

Auch- über die Nennung des Tagungsortes bestand im Feindlager keine Einigkeit. Während Reuters Täbris nannte, meldete der Sender Moskau Teheran. Aus den USA verlautete überhaupt nichts darüber. Dort hüllt man sich in Schweigen und ist sehr böse darüber, daß die englischen und sowjetischen Meldungen Roosevelt das Konzept verdorben haben. Von Roosevelt stammt nämlich die Idee, die Welt mit einer Bluffsensation zu überraschen. Er wollte die große Propaganda-bombe gegen Deutschland plötzlich in die Luft gehen lassen und muß nun voller Wut feststellen, daß die Bombe vorzeitig zerplatzt ist.

Die ganze „psychologische Wirkung,“ auf die es die jüdischen Agitationsstrategen Roosevelts angelegt hatten, ist verpufft. Es ist daher nicht mehr als ein Rückzugsgefecht, wenn Reuters aus Washington meldet, die Meldung des Moskauer Rundfunks über den Abschluß der Besprechungen in Teheran habe die Erwartungen in Washington noch erhöht, daß „große psychologische Schläge gegen Deutschland bevorstehen, um den Krieg in Europa zu beenden.“

Roosevelts Agitationschef Elmer Davis bleibt nun nichts weiter übrig, als in Lon­don und Moskau Beschwerde einzulegen, weil man dort in der Nachrichtengebung entgegen dem Plan des Weißen Hauses vorgeprellt ist. Die Engländer haben einen gehörigen Rüffel einstecken müssen, mit den Sowjets geht Elmer Davis natürlich wesentlich sanfter um. Er gibt nur zu ver­stehen, daß die frühzeitige Nachrichten­übermittlung des Moskauer Rundfunks zur Konferenz in Iran „für die amerikanischen Informationsstellen wie ein Blitz aus heiterem Himmel“ kam.

Weit wichtiger als dieser Nachrichten­ krieg am Rande der großen Bluffaktion ist der Satz in der Moskauer Meldung, daß das Konferenzkommuniqué „noch heraus­ gegeben werde.“ Das ist immerhin kennzeichnend. Denn wenn man sich einige Tage nach Konferenzschluß noch nicht auf die Formel geeinigt hat, läßt das eindeutig darauf schließen, daß es mit der vielgerühmten „Einigkeit der Alliierten“ nicht weit her ist. Offenbar sucht man nach einem möglichst guten Abgang von der Bühne, nachdem man erkannt hat, daß mit Bluffmätzchen die deutsche Moral nicht erschüttert werden kann. Vermutlich sollten die Terrorangriffe, die die britische und nordamerikanische Luftwaffe gegen deut­sche Städte unternahm, eine Probe aufs Exempel sein. Das Ergebnis muß aber wohl ebenfalls höchst unbefriedigend gewesen sein, nachdem man hat feststellen müssen, daß die deutsche Moral nach wie vor ausgezeichnet ist, und daß das deutsche Volk weder durch Drohungen noch durch Terrorakte mürbe gemacht werden kann.

Die reichlich abgegriffenen Drohungen, wie etwa die der News Chronicle, daß das deutsche Volk „auf jeden Fall unter­ drückt und ganz kurz gehalten werden müsse“ und die Schreckensmär der New York Herald Tribune, daß man im Wa­shingtoner Kongreß und sonstigen politischen Kreisen annehme, Roosevelt, Chur­chill und Stalin arbeiteten an dem „Kapitulation- oder Todesultimatum“ an Deutschland, verfehlen so völlig ihre Wirkung, um so mehr, wenn New York Herald Tribune mit der grotesk wirken den Behauptung operiert, daß „Italien glücklicher nach der bedingungslosen Kapitulation” sei.

Neuer Druck auf die Türkei

Wenn jetzt davon die Rede ist, daß Roosevelt auf der Heimreise den türkischen Außenminister Menemencioglu sprechen werde, dann zeigt das, daß der USA.-Präsident auch kein besseres Rezept weiß, den europäischen Krieg zu beenden, als daß die Türken in den Krieg hineingezerrt werden sollen. Eine solche Aussprache Roosevelts mit Menemencioglu wäre weiter ein Beweis dafür, daß der Feind die Schwäche seiner Mittelmeeropposition erkannt hat und keine Möglichkeit sieht, die Südostflanke Europas aufzureißen. Die Türkei wird sich also nach den Konferenzen von Kairo und Teheran einem neuen Druck der Kriegsbrandstifter ausgesetzt sehen, der darauf berechnet ist, das türkische Volk aus seiner strikten Neutralität herauszudrängen.

Schlußstrich für die kleinen Staaten

Die Ansicht griechischer Kreise über die Konferenz von Teheran faßt die Saloniker Zeitung Nea Evropi dahin zusammen, daß Teheran den Schlußstrich unter die Auslieferung der kleinen Staaten, insbesondere aber der Emigrantenkomitees an den Bolschewismus setze. Bezüglich des ehemaligen griechischen Königs habe Churchill ja bereits entsprechende Erklärungen abgegeben, als er im Unterhaus mitteilte, England sei beileibe keine Verpflichtungen hinsichtlich der Wiedereinsetzung des Königs nach dem Kriege eingegangen. Auch der ehemalige König des einstigen Jugoslawiens habe seine Befehle erhalten, indem man ihn aufgefordert habe, die Banden Mihailowitschs aufzulösen und sie dem Kommunistengeneral Tito unterzuordnen. England gebe damit endgültig die beiden Balkanstaaten auf, nachdem es sie mit seinen Versprechungen und Garantien in den Krieg hineingetrieben habe. Es sei offensichtlich, daß sich England den sowjetischen Wünsche völlig unterworfen habe.

Täuschung nicht möglich

Zu Teheran schreibt die Bukarester Viatza: Eines sei gewiß: ganz Europa denke mit Entsetzen an seine geplante Bolschewisierung, so umgänglich und demokratisch man die Bolschewisten auch immer darstellen möge. Schließlich könnten auch die Erklärungen, die kürzlich in den USA und in England, abgegeben worden seien – das Blatt beruft sich dabei auf die Erklärungen von Smuts und Berle – die Befürchtungen über die aggressiven Absichten der Sowjets gegen ihre Nachbarländer und selbst gegen die Exilregierungen nur verstärken.

‚Ein Gang nach Kanossa‘

Die Konferenz von Teheran war für Churchill und Roosevelt ein Gang nach Kanossa, schreibt die in Pamplona erscheinende. Zeitung Diario de Navarra zu der Konferenz von Teheran. Stalin habe mit satanischer Bosheit darauf bestanden, daß die Konferenz nicht außerhalb seines Machtbereichs stattfinde, und die beiden angelsächsischen Staatsmänner hätten wohl oder übel den Kanossagang antreten müssen, um den roten Zaren persönlich zu sprechen. Diese Nachgiebigkeit der plutokratisch und kapitalistisch regierten Länder aber beweise, welche Macht Stalin heute den Anglo-Amerikanern gegenüber bereits besitze. Es sei daher kaum abwegig anzunehmen, daß es auch Stalin gewesen sei, der Churchill und Roosevelt seine Pläne und Ziele einfach diktiert habe.

95

U.S. State Department (December 6, 1943)

The Shah of Iran to President Roosevelt

Tehran, December 6, 1943

Dear Mr. President, Your Minister duly delivered the framed photograph which Your Excellency was good enough to present to me, just before your departure, as a souvenir of your memorable visit to Tehran.

This handsome gift, a very good likeness, stands in a prominent place in my study and will always remind me of your great personality and the interesting conversation we had together on November 30.

Your Excellency’s kind letter of December 1 has also been gratefully received. The cordial sentiments therein expressed are entirely reciprocated, and I look forward to an ever-increasing cooperation between our two countries in the arts of peace to our mutual advantage.

Let me assure Your Excellency that the friendship of the American People is very precious to us; my constant desire will be to foster closer ties between Iran and the United States of America which have already been brought so near to one another in the common struggle for freedom.

It is indeed a matter for gratification that the momentous Tehran Conference was a success. We have to be particularly grateful to Your Excellency for your share in obtaining approval of the satisfactory communiqué issued yesterday regarding Iran, in the drafting of which Mr. Dreyfus, Your able and distinguished representative, has taken an outstanding part.

The kind invitation to visit Washington, extended by Your Excellency, is much appreciated and I hope to be able to avail myself of it and to have the pleasure of seeing You again as soon as circumstances permit.

With the assurance of my friendship and highest consideration, I remain dear Mr. President

Yours sincerely
MOHAMMAD REZA PAHLAVI

96 
740.0011 EW 1939/32203: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union to the Secretary of State 

Moscow, December 6, 1943 — 7 p.m.

U.S. urgent
2131.

The announcement in Moscow in the newspapers for December 4 of the Conference was a complete surprise to me. There was agreement at the Conference that the two agreed declarations were to be released for publication not before December 6, 8 p.m., Moscow Time. Your 1344 December 4, midnight, not urgent, which was received here December 6, 3 p.m. and promptly decoded. Release was to be made simultaneously in London, Moscow and Washington. It was my distinct understanding, and I was present, that it was understood that no mention of the Conference would be made before that time for security reasons. Since my return last night I have not seen Molotov who, I believe, only arrived back today and I am therefore unable at present to give an explanation of the reason which led the Soviet Government to authorize the announcement. It is not unlikely that the original reference by Reuters in Lisbon to a meeting of The Three and reports that Senator Connally in a broadcast had stated that a meeting was then taking place in the Middle East caused the Soviet Government to make the announcement in question.

I assume you have full information now as to the arrangements for simultaneous publication. I personally gave Major John Boettiger, of the President’s press staff, authentic copies of the two declarations in order that he might make the necessary technical arrangements.

I shall take the first suitable opportunity to ascertain from Molotov the reasons which led the Soviet Government to make the announcement.

HARRIMAN

97 
Press Release
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 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 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 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
ROOSEVELT
STALIN
CHURCHILL