861.001/3–2346: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kennan) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 23—12:30 p.m.]
920. All papers March 23 publish on front page following questions of AP correspondent Gilmore and answers from Stalin:
(1) Of what importance do you attribute to UNO as a means of preserving international peace?
Answer: I attribute great importance to UNO since it is serious instrument for preservation of peace and international security. Strength of this international organization consists in fact that it is based on principle of equal rights of states and not on principle of domination [of some] over others. If it can preserve in future the principle of equal rights, then undoubtedly it will play great positive role in cause of maintenance of universal peace and security.
(2) What in your opinion has evoked present fear of war felt by many persons in many countries?
Answer: I am convinced that neither nations nor their armies are striving for a new war, they want peace and are striving for maintenance of peace. This means that “present fear of war” is not evoked on their part. I think that “present fear of war” is evoked by actions “of certain political groups engaged in propaganda of new war and sowing in this manner seeds of discord and uncertainty.
[Page 726](3) What should governments of freedom-loving countries do at present time for preservation of peace and calm throughout world?
Answer: It is necessary for public and ruling circles of states to organize wide-scale counter-propaganda against propagandizers of new war and for maintenance of peace, that no activity of propagandizers of new war remain without required rebuff on part of public and press, in order in this manner to expose in good time the inciters of war and not to give them opportunity to abuse freedom of speech against interests of peace.
Sent Department 920 repeated London 160, Paris 72, Chungking 43, and Frankfurt.