World War II – Document #4

“Another item on which I ventured to advise President Truman involved in the Soviet’s intention to enter the Japanese War. I told him that since reports indicated the imminence of Japan’s collapse, I deprecated the Red Army’s engaging in that war. I foresaw certain difficulties arising out of such participation and suggested that, at the very least, we ought not to put ourselves in the position of requesting or begging for Soviet aid. It was my personal opinion that no power on earth could keep the Red Army out of that war unless victory came before they could get in.”

Source: Dwight D. Eisenhower, recollections of a July 1945 meeting with President Truman [1948].