741.61/3–1146: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union ( Kennan ) to the Secretary of State
u.s. urgent
[Received 9:18 p.m.]
751. As press has doubtless reported, this morning’s Sov press prints: (a) large portions of Churchill’s speech48 (we have not yet had time to check entire speech with original); (b) front page Pravda editorial on subject of Churchill’s speech (essence of this editorial is that Churchill’s speech calls for unity of Western Democracies under hegemony of Anglo-American military alliance, that this union would be directed against USSR, that its realization would signify breakdown of coalition and UNO, but that it is condemned to utter failure); and (c) excerpts from President’s press conference of March 849 in which President disassociated himself from Churchill’s speech, denied probability of new Big Three meeting, expressed skepticism that Sov Union “would follow a unilateral policy of action” and stated that he would not permit a breakdown of UNO.
This sudden burst of publicity about Churchill’s speech deserves careful attention. Following points strike us on first impression:
- (1)
- This method of procedure was chosen after Kremlin had carefully waited to see reaction to Churchill’s speech in US and England and indicates Moscow considers echo to Churchill’s statements to have been so weak that it is worthwhile to throw Sov influence into scales of international public reaction. Had Churchill’s speech found greater support in English and American public opinion and Govt circles, Moscow would doubtless have taken a much more serious view of it and drawn other conclusions as to treatment.
- (2)
- This method of approach indicates Moscow is relieved about general situation, as reflected in public reaction to Churchill’s speech and considers there is still excellent possibility that Western Democracies will not succeed in organizing any effective common front on military level against Sov bloc.
- (3)
- It is worth noting that Sov public has still not been given any inkling of knowledge that there has been any international difference of opinion over maintenance of Sov forces in Iran. Indeed, in passage quoted from President’s press conference, they have received the first hint that any questions at all have arisen on international level which might lead to serious tension in UNO. I question whether wide publicity now being given Churchill’s controversy does not indicate that Moscow views early denouement of Iranian situation as probably unavoidable and is trying to prepare ground with Sov public by showing that while there are indeed persons abroad who are taking a strong line against USSR, they do not command majority support, and that [Page 713] there is generally great disunity and difference of opinion on these questions in Anglo-Saxon world.
- (4)
- Despite the above, we are somewhat amazed at freedom with which Pravda has published, and then cited again editorially, some of Churchill’s strongest and most effectively phrased statements. Against background of Pravda’s own barren and doctrinaire language Churchill’s eloquent phrases can hardly fail to strike a sympathetic note, if only by their poetry, in a nation second to none of its admiration for the beauty of speech.