711.61/595: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State

76. I was able to arrange for Mr. Roy Howard to interview Stalin yesterday.

In the course of the interview Stalin made the flat statement that if the Japanese invaded Outer Mongolia Russia would fight. He also expressed fear of German aggression against the Soviet Union. He cleverly evaded the issue of his direction of the Communist Party of the United States and expressed hopes for excellent relations between the United States and the Soviet Union. Howard talked with Litvinov today; the conversation was without interest with the possible exception of a statement by Litvinov that no difficulties would have arisen between the Soviet Union and the United States if it had not been for my hostility to the activities of the Comintern Congress.

I feel that it might be worth while to impress on Troyanovsky and especially Umansky when he arrives that resentment of interference in the internal affairs of the United States by the Comintern acting under orders of Stalin is felt not only by myself but by the entire Government of the United States and the American people.

Howard informed me that he had [stated] to Stalin that in his opinion as a newspaperman a repetition of Soviet interference in the internal affairs of the United States similar to the interference during the Comintern Congress last August would produce an immediate break in diplomatic relations.

Howard during his entire visit in Moscow conducted himself as a most loyal American and I feel that the officials of the Department will find conversations with him valuable.

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I should be obliged if you would bring this telegram to the attention of the President.

Bullitt