840.811/7–3148: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Smith) to the Secretary of State
1485. Soviet press July 31 devotes almost two columns to Tass special correspondent’s description first session Danube Conference. In brief review Danube navigation question, article emphasizes question was raised by US–UK at peace conference where they insistently attempted secure restoration pre-war unjust conditions whereby actual [Page 639] bosses of waterway, playing important role in economy Czechoslovakia-Yugoslavia–Hungary–Bulgaria–Rumania-USSR and Austria, were not riparian but states far removed from Danube. Claiming US–UK demanded inclusion in peace treaties of obligations incompatible with sovereignty of Rumania, Bulgaria and Hungary, article emphasizes Soviet Union’s past opposition these unjust proposals and its insistence that all Danubian states participate in regulation navigation. Having established this vastly simplified one-sided history of the question in Soviet reader’s mind, article then summarizes Simic’s initial speech and launches into full description debate on question of working and official languages, presenting to Soviet reader farcical wrangle in which satellite negotiators display overwhelming forensic agility.
Sent Dept; 1485, Dept pass Belgrade 55.