TOLSTOY

TOLSTOY, codename for the Allied conference held in Moscow from 9 to 19 October 1944. Present were Churchill and Stalin, and their military and diplomatic advisers. Averell Harriman, the US ambassador, was present at most meetings as an observer, and the head of the US military mission in Moscow, General John Deane, was present whenever military topics were discussed.

Churchill primarily wanted to establish the timing for the USSR to enter the war against Japan, which Stalin had promised to do at the Teheran conference the previous November (see Eureka), but he first came to an agreement with Stalin over the degree of influence the two countries should have in the Balkans. He wrote on a piece of paper the following percentages:Romania—USSR 90%, others 10%Greece—UK (in accord with USA) 90%, USSR 10%Yugoslavia—50–50%Hungary—50–50%Bulgaria—USSR 75%, others 25%

Stalin agreed by ticking the piece of paper and this enabled Churchill to dispatch the British expedition to Greece later that month. However, in subsequent haggling between Eden and Molotov the percentages for Bulgaria and Hungary were changed to 80%–20% in favour of the USSR. Poland's future was also discussed after Churchill requested that Stanisław Mikołajczyk, the prime minister of the Polish government in London, should meet the Soviet government to discuss the Polish–Soviet frontier, but nothing was achieved. See also diplomacy and Grand Alliance.