861.00/8–2546: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Durbrow) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 25—7 a.m.]
3306. Release of Litvinov from position as Junior Deputy Minister Foreign Affairs is logical culmination of gradual process his exclusion [Page 777] from active participation in Soviet foreign relations. Dept will recall that in June he was reported having said he was definitely out of the picture and was functioning only as observer.37
At this juncture, we believe it useful to recall as well his observations reported at that time based on his conviction that irreconcilable differences between East and West grew out of Kremlin ideology with its insistence on inevitability of conflict between Communist and capitalist considerations.
We have always considered Litvinov a westward looking Soviet official. Although never a member of the Kremlin inner circle and accordingly never as influential as his reputation abroad led many to believe his periods of active participation in Soviet diplomacy coincided with periods of greatest cooperation with the Atlantic community and loudest professions in support of principle of collective security.
Since his dismissal from position as Foreign Commissar in 1938, Litvinov has had no positive role in formulation of Soviet policy despite fact that he was brought out of political obscurity in 1941 and dusted off to serve as a front man to assure full American aid and cooperation in war effort. Since his return here, he has been but a nominal member of FonOff. During this time he has apparently come to conclusion that policies being pursued by Politburo will only lead to further difficulties for Soviet Union and might even lead to eventual open clash with West.38 Announcement of his removal at this time is but another manifestation of Kremlin’s decision to relegate cooperation with Western Allies and world organization to secondary position in Soviet policy.
Repeated London as 352, Paris as 327.
- Litvinov was dropped from his position on August 24. For the report of his views in June, see telegram 1964, June 21, from Moscow, p. 763.↩
- The Chargé reported in telegram 3388, September 4, 1946, 5 p.m., from Moscow that he had been told by the British Chargé that in a short, confidential talk at a reception two days before “Litvinov was in very pessimistic mood and stated things were going badly and he expected them to get worse. Litvinov stated he was very pleased that anomalous situation which he had occupied for such a long time had been rectified by his release from duties in FonOff. He seemed to be in good health and stated he was pleased that he was now a private citizen.” (861.00/9–446)↩