861.00 Congress, Communist International, VII/15: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:50 p.m.]
270. I learned last night from a Soviet source that I consider authoritative that the Congress of the Third International would begin on or about July 20 and close on or about August 5. I was further informed that speeches made and resolutions adopted would be published and it was alleged that the resolutions and directives had already been prepared in final form.
This afternoon at the close of a conversation Litvinov said that he regarded the general international outlook with extreme pessimism. I replied that in addition to my concern over the present international [Page 222] situation I was gravely concerned with regard to the impending meeting of the Third International. Litvinov said: “What? Is there to be one?” I answered: “Yes, on the 20th of this month.” Litvinov replied with a broad grin: “You know more about the Third International than I do. The other day when I was talking with Stalin I said that I had heard there was to be a meeting of the Third International on the 10th of this month. Stalin replied: ‘Is there?’ He knew no more about it than I do.”
I answered: “You will have to tell that one to somebody else. You cannot expect me to believe that Stalin knows nothing about the Third International.” Litvinov replied: “No, I assure you.” I then said: “Well, I feel that I ought to say at least that if the Third International does meet and if it concerns itself in any way with the United States our relations will be so gravely prejudiced that it is impossible to predict the consequences.” Litvinov with another broad grin and a wave of the hand passed off my statement with the remark: “I know nothing about it.”
It seems to me clear from Litvinov’s demeanor today that he intends to take the attitude that the Soviet Government has no connection with the Third International and knows nothing whatsoever about its activities.
In accordance with the Department’s telegram No. 143, July 3, 4 p.m., I have indicated on several occasions that the United States Government would take the gravest view of a violation of the pledges contained in Litvinov’s note of November 16, 1933 to the President.
I feel that there is a possibility that if I continue to intimate that a disregard by the Soviet Government of Litvinov’s pledges to the President may result in a severance of diplomatic relations a restraining hand may be placed on the activities of the Congress of the Third International with respect to the United States.
Nevertheless, I have small hope that the Soviet Government will exclude American Communists from this Congress or except the United States from the resolutions and directives of the Congress and I venture to suggest that it is not too early to consider the precise course of action we should take if Litvinov’s pledges should be violated.
The next time I see Litvinov I shall attempt to draw him down from his jocose attitude toward the question. It may be, of course, that the remarks I have let drop already have led to a decision to make the Congress entirely secret and that Litvinov’s levity was due to this fact but I do not believe that this is the case and think we should be prepared for any eventuality.