867N.01/2–1946: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kennan) to the Secretary of State
priority
[Received February 19—2:57 p.m.]
489. ReDeptel 96, January 17. Reference Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry. Have received answer dated February 18 from Dekanozov to my letter of January 238a re visit of members of Committee of Inquiry to Soviet zones of occupation in Germany and Austria as well as to Bulgaria, Rumania and Hungary which reads as follows:
“The Soviet Govt is consistently and steadily following a policy which excludes all kinds of racial discrimination including that in relation to Jews. Pursuing this policy the Soviet authorities in the Soviet occupation zones in Germany and Austria are suppressing any attempted manifestation of racial discrimination in these zones.
As concerns the position of Jews in Bulgaria, Rumania and Hungary, as is known, the armistice terms with these countries provide for the abolition of every kind of racial discrimination and the respective Allied Control Commissions are keeping a careful watch on the execution by Bulgaria, Rumania and Hungary of this condition of the armistice.
In accordance with this the Soviet Govt does not see any necessity for a visit to the Soviet zones of occupation in Germany and Austria as well as Bulgaria, Rumania and Hungary by the members of the above-mentioned committee, concerning the creation, purposes and functions of which the Soviet Govt, moreover, was not informed.”
Please repeat to Berlin, Vienna, Sofia, Bucharest, Budapest, Paris and London.