Moscow Conference (1942)

When told by Eden of the Prime Minister's plans Oliver Harvey wrote, 'But what gallantry of the old gentleman, setting off at 65 across Africa in the heat of mid-summer![3] Churchill and his party departed RAF Lyneham shortly after midnight on 1 August 1942 in a Liberator bomber (number AL504), codenamed Commando and piloted by William J.[3] Churchill's wife Clementine who had watched his departure, later wrote to her husband, I think much of you my Darling & pray that you may be able to penetrate & solve the problem of the Middle East stultification or frustration or what is it?This first part of your journey is less dramatic & sensational than your visit to the Ogre in his Den; but I should imagine it may be more fruitful in results.Churchill arrived in Egypt on 4 August, where he stayed at the British Embassy in Cairo.[3] The British delegation led by Churchill and Cardogan was met by Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov and Chief of Staff, Marshal Boris Shaposhnikov.The initial meeting was had by only a small party consisting of Churchill, Major Charles Dunlop (Embassy Interpreter), Clark Kerr and Harriman.Stalin reported grave problems on the Eastern Front and that the Germans were making 'a tremendous effort to get to Baku and Stalingrad'.Churchill reported that after an 'exhaustive Anglo-American examination', the western allies did not feel able to launch an attack across the English Channel in September 1942.Churchill added that even by the time the 1943 operation was ready it was conceivable that the Germans may be able to field a stronger force to oppose them.The talks started out on a very sour note but after many hours of informal conversations, the two men understood each other and knew they could cooperate smoothly.Churchill listened to the document being translated and stated he would reply in writing but that 'we [Britain and America] have made up our minds upon the course to be pursued and that reproaches were vain'."'[3] After having lunch with guests including General Brooke and US Ambassador William H. Standley, Churchill retired for his usual afternoon rest.Ambassador Clark Kerr reported to Eden, This long walk, or rather trot, for he [Stalin] had to be brisk in order to keep pace with Mr. Churchill, is, I understand, without precedent in the history of the Soviet Kremlin in so far as we have impinged upon it.Churchill called for Colonel Jacob at 09.00 to discuss the stormy encounter of 13 August.[9] The Prime Minister's car entered the Kremlin just before 19.00 and the pair were escorted to a large conference room to meet Stalin.Churchill thanked Stalin "for all the courtesy and hospitality" before stating -[3] I realised that what I had to say about the opening of a second front would be very painful to our Russian friends and so I thought it would be my duty to come myself to see you, Premier Stalin – that it would be more friendly and proof of my sincere feelings if I came myself – rather than communicate through our Ambassador or by exchange of telegrams.Stalin replied that their "personal exchange of views has been of the most importance" and that "the fact that we have met is of very great value".Stalin then took Churchill over the situation on the Eastern Front along with plans to defend the Caucasus and block the German drive towards the Baku Oilfields.The discussions left Churchill feeling, as he explained in a telegram to Attlee, that there was 'an even chance' of the Caucasus being held but General Brooke 'will not go as far as this'.The discussions were wide-ranging, covering topics from the supply of lorries to the Red Army, the Napoleonic Wars, the Duke of Marlborough and the introduction of collective farms in the Soviet Union.[3] Cadogan described the scene in a letter to Lord Halifax -[10] There I found Winston and Stalin, and Molotov who has joined them, sitting with a heavily-laden board between them: food of all kinds crowned by a sucking pig, and innumerable bottles.What Stalin made me drink seemed pretty savage: Winston, who by that time was complaining of a slight headache, seemed wisely to be confining himself to a comparatively innocuous effervescent Caucasian red wine.Anders had already flown to Moscow from Tashkent and made preparations to carry on to Cairo as if, as General Brooke recalled, 'it was in the next street'.As dawn was breaking a band played Internationale, God Save the King and the Star Spangled Banner as the Prime Minister stood to attention and saluted.I am sure that the disappointing news I brought could not have been imparted except by me personally without leading to a really serious drifting apart.Returning via Tehran and Cairo, where he held further meetings, Churchill arrived at RAF Lyneham to be greeted by Clementine on the evening of 24 August.