Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947, The British Commonwealth; Europe, Volume III

851.00/10–3047: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State

secret

Paris, October 30, 1947—7 p.m.

4656. Today’s Humanité publishes full text of Thorez speech yesterday at meeting of Communist Central Committee (my 4646, October 30¹). Speech openly announced CPF transition from tactics employed when it posed as a “government” party to new sharpened methods of struggle and indicates as well abandonment by Communists of serious pretense of patriotism except “defense of France against American imperialism”. Speech may be considered as a declaration of loyalty toward Soviet Union and of intention to fight for democratic Government mentioned in party appeal of October 28. Thorez surveys international situation along lines set by Zhdanov² and nine-party conference³ and in particular savagely condemns American drive for “world domination for which they fought the last war” and the policy of “imperialistic aggression” which the US opposes to the “traditional policy of peace of the Soviet Union which is based on the coexistence of capitalism and socialism for a long period to come”. Discussing the situation in France he emphasizes (a) “consolidation of labor and democratic forces around CPF” and (b) disturbing progress and regrouping of reactionary forces around RPF”. Main thesis advanced by speech is “American intention to colonize France” which is statedly being accomplished with aid of Socialist leaders (Blum and Mollet) by means of American penetration into French industry and intervention in French domestic affairs. Thorez cites as examples American efforts to oust Communists from Government, aid to parochial schools and establishment in Paris of a bureau “especially entrusted with organization of struggle against the CGT”.

Serious self-criticism is likewise prominently featured in speech which dwells on “errors committed by party militants” including failure of Central Committee sufficiently soon “to note and define regrouping of imperialist and anti-democratic forces under direction and for profit of US”. According to Thorez, such Central Committee errors have led to “indecision and vacillation” in National Assembly Communist group which opposed “electoral law” with insufficient vigor and failed to vote negatively on questions where such vote was imperative. The hesitations and indecision of the Central Committee and Communist Parliamentary group “retarded the rapid mobilization of the Democratic and Workers masses against the Ramadier Government and its nefarious policy”.

Condemnation by Thorez of “sensitiveness of party members toward Socialist and other accusations” that Communist party is prejudicing French recovery, particularly the possibility of obtaining American credits, is of considerable interest as indicating existence of discontent of followers and members with line Communists have been ordered to take. Thorez allusion to opportunist tendencies manifested within party “underestimating labor forces and fearing mass movement” while fully in accord with Zhdanov’s report is a clear indication of a planned intensification of “mass” tactics.

Speech discusses failure of Front Populaire and errors in resistance movements and presupposes creation of a massive Communist led front composed of the forces of the working class, democracy and peace supported by “committee to defend the republic” in all towns and villages (my 4657⁴) and by unions of workers in all branches of industry to safeguard the republic and protect such industry against American “enslavement plans”.

Sent Department 4656, repeated London 820, Moscow 515 and by pouch to Rome, Berlin.

Caffery

1. Not printed.
2. Andrey Alexandrovich Zhdanov, member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
3. At a conference held at Wilizia Gora, Poland, September 22–23, 1947, representatives of the Communist parties of Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Rumania, Hungary, Poland, the Soviet Union, France, Czechoslovakia, and Italy agreed to establish the Communist Information Bureau (Cominform), which was to organize the exchange of information and the possible coordination of activities of the various Communist parties. For documents regarding the founding of the Cominform, see Margaret Carlyle (ed.), Documents on International Affairs, 1941–1948, issued under the auspices of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (London, New York, Toronto, Oxford University Press, 1952), pp. 122 ff.
4. Not printed.