861.917/9–1944
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of Eastern European Affairs (Bohlen)
Mr. Kapustin, Soviet Counselor, during his call this afternoon inquired whether I had heard of the Ambassador’s conversation with the Under Secretary regarding the Soviet desire to issue a magazine in the United States on the same basis as the forthcoming United States magazine in Moscow is issued. I told Mr. Kapustin that I [Page 992] had heard of this conversation and had understood that Mr. Orekhov, Press Attaché of the Soviet Embassy, would discuss the matter with me in detail.
I took occasion to point out to Mr. Kapustin that apparently the Ambassador had not been correctly informed as to the arrangements under which the American magazine is to be issued, since he referred to a statement that it was distributed free. I explained to Mr. Kapustin that these magazines when printed in the United States and passed by the Soviet censor were turned over to the International Book Company in Moscow11 who then placed them on sale through regular channels and that the large size magazine would sell for 15 rubles a copy and the smaller for from 3 to 5 rubles. I added that from the proceeds of the sale 30% would go to the International Book Company for expenses connected with distribution and sale and 70% would be turned over to the Embassy.
Mr. Kapustin said that he would inform the Ambassador of this and would let me know when Mr. Orekhov would come and see me on this matter.
- Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga, central distributor for Soviet publications.↩