811.917 America/6–1047: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Durbrow) to the Secretary of State
2088. Williams1 recent trip succeeded in obtaining following figures on Amerika magazine circulation from local Soyuz Pechat2 officials: Gorki gets 400 copies each issue, Baku 1000, Orjonikidze 100, Tbilisi 600. Officials in each these centers said magazine not put on public sale but sold through special party channels to “leaders of the workers” and factory directors. They did not seem to feel that this distribution policy was attempt to lessen effectiveness of magazine, but simply the logical distribution policy for desirable commodities in short supply.
Embassy feels that above leadership [readership?] is as effective as possible with 50,000 total circulation.
One Soyuz Pechat official said, “Tell Moscow we want more copies your magazine down here.” Another said his area could use 10 times as many. Another said it was his personal opinion his city should have 10,000 copies. Editors in Saratov, Stalingrad, or Orjonikidze said they received the magazine regularly. A deputy of Supreme Soviet of Georgia said he received it. Georgian Branch of VOKS said they received 25 or 30 copies each issue from Moscow headquarters. Two people were spotted reading copy in reading room of Stalin Park of Culture and Rest in Tbilisi. Librarian explained it was personal copy of member of staff but was being passed around. Director of Stalin birthplace shrine in Gori brought out copy given him by American visitors 10 months ago.
Foregoing report contains information central Soyuz Pechat organization Moscow has despite repeated requests consistently refused to make available to Embassy and therefore must not be given any publicity whatsoever.