861.20/406: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union ( Henderson ) to the Secretary of State
Moscow
, June 23,
1937—5 p.m.
[Received June 23—2:40 p.m.]
[Received June 23—2:40 p.m.]
131. Reference my 117, June 13, 11 p.m.
- 1.
- Insofar as the Embassy can ascertain not one diplomatic mission here, nor a single foreign observer in Moscow whose opinion bears weight, believed that the executed Red Army officers were guilty of the crimes attributed to them.
- 2.
- Opinions differ as to how the officers in question offended
Stalin. Practically all
diplomatic missions and foreign observers believe, however, that one
or more of the possibilities listed below is responsible for the
destruction of these officers. [Page 386]
- (a)
- The officers had shown a tendency not wholeheartedly to approve certain of Stalin’s recent actions and particularly to object to his attitude that the welfare of the State was identical with the continued success of his own political career.
- (b)
- The officers had become alarmed at the havoc which the growing disposition of Stalin to distrust and destroy those about him was creating in all spheres of Soviet life and had made remarks to each other showing their disapproval thereof.
- (c)
- In some instances these remarks had developed into conversations regarding the desirability of executing some kind of coup d’état for the purpose of either getting rid of Stalin or curbing his power. These conversations did not go so far, however, as to result in a formal conspiracy.
- 3.
- The French Ambassador31 has told me in confidence that he has been given formally to understand from certain Soviet sources that certain military leaders including Tukhachevsky, Yakir and Uborevitch had engaged in conversations along the lines indicated in 2 (c) above and that these discussions were known to but not reported by at least some of the other executed officers. He added that he was convinced that no formal conspiracy had evolved and that he did not believe that the executed officers had formed treasonous contacts with Germany or any other foreign power.
- 4.
- The Lithuanian Minister32 states that some of his Russian acquaintances have given him to understand that several of the executed officers had actually discussed ways and means of seizing power and of converting Stalin into a tool of the Red Army. He also says that according to his understanding the conversations had not developed into a specific plot. The Minister has also heard that the position of Voroshilov has been greatly weakened and that he also may eventually be deprived of all power if not removed from office.
- 5.
- Although the number of prominent persons arrested is swelling daily conditions in Moscow and, insofar as the Embassy can ascertain, elsewhere in the Soviet Union are quiet. The press continues to report confusion in various spheres of industry and agriculture and to demand that the officials responsible therefor be punished.
Henderson