861.761/10–946: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Smith) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 9—4:41 p.m.]
3795. Representatives of American broadcasting companies here, Hottelet of CBS, Magidoff of NBC and Stevens of ABC, were told yesterday that their future broadcasting time on Moscow radio was cancelled. In response to their repeated inquiries, they were told that Soviet broadcasts were being rearranged and that after reshuffle was completed, it was found that no time was available for broadcasts by foreign correspondents. They requested interview with Foreign Office press department which was granted for evening October 9, but was cancelled same day. They are still negotiating for interview in which they will seek to discover whether ban is final or temporary.
Only other radio correspondent is Danish Press Attaché. Americans believe ban also applies to him but are unable to determine conclusively that such is case because Dane is ill.