London. Soviet Embassy.
For Maisky. October 28, 1942.

I have received your thoughts. I found in them much that is interesting and instructive. A number of your proposals coincide with measures we have already planned.

I still think that, being a supporter of the easy war, Churchill will readily fall under the influence of those who are oriented toward the defeat of the Soviet Union, since the defeat of our country and a compromise with Germany at the expense of the Soviet Union is the easiest form of war for England against Germany.

Of course, the English will later understand that without a Russian front on the continent of Europe, with France out of action, they — that is, the English — are doomed to destruction. But when will they understand this?

We shall live and see.

I doubt that the English will support the northern operation. They are only talking about it for show.

Churchill declared to us in Moscow that by the beginning of spring 1943 around one million Anglo-American troops would open a second front in Europe. But Churchill apparently belongs to the category of those leaders who easily give promises in order equally easily to forget them or even to break them rudely.

He also solemnly promised in Moscow to bomb Berlin intensively throughout September and October. He did not fulfill his promise, however, and did not even attempt to inform Moscow of the reasons for non-fulfillment.

Well, from now on we shall know what kind of allies we are dealing with.

I have little faith in Operation Torch. If, contrary to expectations, this operation ends successfully, one can reconcile oneself to the fact that aircraft were taken from us for the sake of this operation.

I told Willkie and informed Roosevelt that in the next 12 months we shall need to receive 2 million tons of wheat from the USA. Willkie said that the USA has no place to put its bread and that our request is entirely feasible. Roosevelt responded positively but proposed nothing concrete. Your proposal to involve Canada, which also has no place to put its bread, is entirely correct.

Stalin