4
The letter to General Headquarters was handed over by the American embassy shortly after New Year. Stalin, however, had learned of the letter earlier. Molotov had told him over the telephone that for several days now the American ambassador W. Averell Harriman had been pushing for a meeting.
“What does he want?” Stalin asked with a frown. He was annoyed by the weather with its mud and slush, by waking up late in the day, by a general tiredness, and by the perennial expectation of bad news. He did not like it at all when business that required calm, careful thinking had to be settled right there and then. After sleepless nights, Stalin got up only slowly and with effort, and he felt overwhelmed and stressed, overcome by dark thoughts. Only late in the evening would his disgust with life
