800.00B Communist International/264: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Standley) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 31—1:06 a.m.]
565. King has furnished me with an authorized translation of his letter to [from] Stalin. It reads as follows:
“Mr. Harold King, Reuters chief correspondent in the USSR. Dear Mr. King: I have received your request to answer a question referring to the dissolution of the Communist International. I am sending you my answer.
Question: ‘British comment on the decision to wind up the Comintern has been very favorable. What is the Soviet view of this matter and of its bearing on future international relations?’
Answer: ‘The dissolution of the Communist International is proper and timely because it facilitates the organization of the common onslaught of all freedom loving nations against the common enemy—Hitlerism.’
The dissolution of the Communist International is proper because:
- (a)
- It exposes the lie of the Hitlerites to the effect that ‘Moscow’ allegedly intends to intervene in the life of other nations and to ‘Bolshevize’ them. An end is now being put to this lie.
- (b)
- It exposes the calumny of the adversaries of communism within the labor movement to the effect that Communist Parties in various countries are allegedly acting not in the interest of their people but on orders from outside. An end is now being put to this calumny too.
- (c)
- It facilitates the work of patriots in freedom loving countries for uniting the progressive forces of their respective countries, regardless of party or religious faith, into a single camp of national liberation—for unfolding the struggle against fascism.
- (d)
- It facilitates the work of patriots of all countries for uniting all freedom loving peoples into a single international camp for the fight against the menace of the world domination by Hitlerism thus clearing the way to the future organization of a companionship of nations based upon their equality.
I think that all these circumstances taken together will result in a further strengthening of the United front of the Allies and other United Nations in their fight for victory over Hitlerite tyranny.
I feel that the dissolution of the Communist International is perfectly timely because it is exactly now, when the Fascist beast is [Page 538] exerting its last strength—that it is necessary to organize the common onslaught of freedom loving countries to finish off this beast and to deliver the people from Fascist oppression.
With respect (Signed) J. Stalin.”