Question

document e
source: telegrams between joseph stalin and franklin d. roosevelt, april 3 - 4, 1945.
note: by april 1945, germany was on the ropes. its army in italy was about to fall to anglo - american forces, and the soviet army was advancing quickly into germany from the east. at this moment, stalin saw roosevelt a telegram expressing his concern that secret negotiations were taking place between the ameri - cans, the british, and the germans - without soviet involvement. the following day, april 4, 1945, roosevelt responded.
stalin to roosevelt, april 3, 1945
you insist that there have been no negotiations yet with the germans.
it may be assumed that you have not been fully informed. as regards my military colleagues, on the basis of data which they have on hand, do not have any doubts that the negotiations have taken place and, that they have ended in an agreement with the germans... who have agreed to open the front and permit the anglo - american troops to advance to the east, and the anglo - americans have promised in return to ease the germans of the germans the peace terms....
and so what we have at the moment is that the germans on the western front have in fact ceased the war against britain and america. at the same time they continue the war against russia, the ally of britain and the u.s.a.
clearly this situation cannot help preserve and promote trust between our countries.
roosevelt to stalin, april 4, 1945
i have received your message of april 3 containing an allegation that arrangements which were made... \permitted the anglo - american troops to advance to the east and the anglo - americans promised in return to ease the germans the peace terms.\
... i have complete confidence in general eisenhower and know that he would certainly inform me before entering into any agreement with the germans.... it is astonishing that a belief seems to have reached the soviet government that i have entered into an agreement with the enemy without first obtaining your full agreement.
finally, i would say this, it would be very great tragedy of history if at the very moment of victory, now within our grasp, such distrust, such lack of faith should prejudice the entire undertaking after the colossal losses of life, material and treasure involved.
frankly i cannot avoid a feeling of bitter resentment toward your informers, whoever they are, for such a vile misrepresentation of my actions or those of my trusted subordinates.
document analysis

1. on what dates did this telegram exchange take place between stalin and roosevelt?
2. in a nutshell, what is stalin accusing roosevelt of?
3. what is roosevelts response?
4. does this document shed any light on why the united states and the soviet union became enemies, or at least adversaries, after war?

Explanation:

1. The telegram exchange took place on April 3 - 4, 1945 as indicated at the top of Document E.
2. Stalin is accusing Roosevelt of having secret negotiations with the Germans without Soviet involvement, and of allowing the Anglo - Americans to ease the German peace terms in return for the Germans advancing to the East.
3. Roosevelt is astonished by the accusation, denies any such arrangements, expresses confidence in General Eisenhower not making such an agreement, and is resentful of the misrepresentation of his actions and those of his subordinates.
4. Yes, it shows growing mistrust between the two leaders. Suspicion of secret deals and lack of transparency in negotiations during the end - stages of the war contributed to the deterioration of relations, which later led to the two countries becoming adversaries.

Answer:

1. April 3 - 4, 1945
2. Secret negotiations with Germans and easing German peace terms.
3. Astonishment, denial, confidence in Eisenhower, resentment of misrepresentation.
4. Yes, due to growing mistrust and suspicion of secret deals.