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          I told him that I knew that our Government, and I 
believed the British Government, would be unwilling to 
send any heavy munitions, such as tanks, aircraft and 
anti-aircraft guns, to the Russian front unless and until 
a conference hsd been held between our three Governments, 
at which the relative strategic interests of each front, 
as well as the interests of our several countries, was 
fully and jointly explored.
          I suggested that, in as much as he was so fully 
engaged with the immediate prosecution of the battle now 
in hand, he could not give the time and attention to such 
a conference until after this battle is over.
          Stalin had previously indicated that the front would 
be solidified not later than October 1.
          I was mindful of the importance that no conference 
be held in Moscow until we knew the outcome of the battle 
now in progress. I felt it very unwise to hold a con-
ference while this battle was in the balance. Hence my 
suggestion to him to hold a conference at as late a date 
as was possible. Then we would know whether or not there 
was to be a front and approximately the location of the 
front during the coming winter months.
     Stalin said he would welcome such a conference and 
said that of course it would be impossible for him to go 
to a conference anywhere other than in Moscow; that he 
would be glad to make available to our Government all
information which was required and he offered to give
us the Soviet designs of their airplanes, tanks and guns.