761.00/10–1845: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Gallman) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:50 p.m.]
10910. FonOff officials dealing with Russian affairs to [do] not consider that current Soviet propaganda lines being followed in Moscow, France and the Balkans of fulmination against a western bloc and denunciation of British and American leadership as reactionary can at present, at least, be taken as indicating any change in policy either responsible for or arising from difficulties in Council of Foreign Ministers. They attribute the harping on a western bloc to Soviet displeasure at effect which Socialist victory in Great Britain is having in strengthening Socialist and other moderate labor parties on continent against Communists. They attach somewhat more importance to hardening of Communist ideological line with its stress on divergence and antagonism between USSR and capitalistic countries.
These officials still feel that Soviet Government has not fully adjusted itself to rebuff in Council to its efforts to split Britain, France and US in apparent hope of forcing some measure of last minute compromise on Balkans. They do not anticipate any early change in Soviet policy of “cooperation” with Western Powers which they emphasize is never followed for sake of cooperation but merely as means of facilitating attainment of Soviet objectives.
Current British policy they state is directed toward ad hoc settlement of problems with Russia as they arise and to avoid as far as possible intensification of spheres of influence. FonOff is acutely conscious of continuing development of Soviet sphere but fears that competitive action would be losing game for Great Britain. All that Great Britain, restrained by parliamentary and public opinion, can do in Eastern Europe is to encourage moderate and center parties whereas Soviet Government has more effective and less scrupulous means at its disposal for exerting influence in West. They deplore widening split down the center of Europe but as yet see no answer.
As an illustration of this policy FonOff has been considering frank talks with Russians on Iran stating what British Government considers its basic interest in Iran to be and asking what Soviet Government [Page 898] considers as its basic interests there. It has so far not done so and may well not do so at all for fear Russians will counter with proposal for outright division of Iran into spheres of influence, Tehran to be in Soviet sphere.
Sent Dept as 10910, repeated to Moscow as 359 and Paris as 674.