711.61/5–1048: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Smith) to the Secretary of State
us urgent
867. Eyes only for the Secretary from Smith. The Soviet Government has familiarized itself with the declaration of the Ambassador of the USA, Mr. Smith, dated May 4, 1948,1 in connection with the present state of Soviet-American relations. The Soviet Government shares the desire, expressed in this statement by the Government of the USA, to better these relations, and is in agreement with the proposal to proceed with this aim towards a discussion and settlement of the difference existing between us.
At the same time the Soviet Government considers it necessary to state that it cannot agree with the Government of the USA that the reason for the present unsatisfactory conditions of Soviet-American relations and the tension in the international situation is a result of the policy of the USSR in eastern Europe and to the increased influence there of the USSR.
As concerns the relations of the USSR with bordering as well as other countries of Europe, the Soviet Government notes with satisfaction that in fact these relations following the war have significantly improved.
As is known, this has found expression through the conclusion of treaties of friendship and mutual assistance between the USSR and these countries which are directed exclusively against the repetition [Page 855] of aggression on the part of Germany and its possible allies and which, contrary to the statement of the Ambassador of the USA in Moscow, Mr. Smith, do not include any secret protocols. The countries overrun by German aggression are particularly interested in the conclusion of these agreements.
It is common knowledge that the USA also is carrying out policy of strengthening its relations with bordering countries, for example, with Canada, Mexico, and also with other countries of America, and this is fully understandable. It is likewise understandable that the Soviet Union also is conducting a policy of strengthening its relations with bordering and other countries of Europe. The USSR will pursue in the future as well its policy of strengthening friendly relationships with these countries of Europe.
In the declaration of the Government of the USA it is stated that certain of the external political measures of the USA in other countries, which have evoked the dissatisfaction of the USSR are explained by the excessive influence of the USSR in the internal affairs of these countries. The Soviet Government is unable to agree with this kind of explanation.
In the countries of eastern Europe which are under consideration, following the war, as is well known, there took place serious democratic reforms which are a means of defense against the threat of a new war and which created favorable conditions for the growth of friendly relations between these countries and the USSR. It would be absolutely incorrect to attribute the democratic reforms which have taken place here to interference of the Soviet Union in the internal affairs of these countries. This would mean ignoring the indubitable fact that the above mentioned reforms are a natural result of the victory of democratic forces over Nazism and Fascism and are regarded by the peoples of eastern Europe as guarantees against the threat of a new war. In this connection, the emergence of Communists in positions of leadership is completely understandable, since the people of these lands consider Communists the most effective fighters against a new war.
No one has the right to dispute the fact that the carrying through of democratic reforms is an internal affair of each state. However, from the above mentioned communication of the Government of the US it is clear that it holds another viewpoint and tolerates on its own part interference in the internal affairs of other states which cannot but call forth serious objections on the part of the Soviet Government. Events in Greece are not the only example of such interference in the internal affairs of other states. The Government of the USA explains the present unsatisfactory state of Soviet-American relations also by [Page 856] the position of the Soviet Government on the question of the so-called European Recovery Program.
At the same time it is absolutely clear that if the question of the economic recovery of the European countries had been set up, not as has been done in the indicated program, but on the basis of normal conditions of international economic cooperation within the framework of the United Nations organization and with the necessary regard of the national rights and sovereignty of states, there would be no reason for USSR’s negative attitude toward the ERP, all the more since the USSR, as one of the states which suffered most, economically, in the war, is fully interested in the development of postwar international economic cooperation.
At the same time the Soviet Government thinks it necessary to state that the present unsatisfactory condition of Soviet-American relations and the tense state of the international situation are the result of the recent policy of the Government of the USA.
The creation of such a tense situation has been fostered in the first place by such steps of the Government of the USA, as the increasing development of a network of naval and air bases in all parts of the world, including territories adjacent to the USSR, about which the press and a series of official representatives of the USA frankly declare that the establishment of these bases has the aim of the encirclement of the USSR. Such measures cannot be explained by the interests of self defense. It is likewise impossible to overlook the fact that the present atmosphere of international relations is poisoned by war-like threats of all kinds directed against the USSR, issuing from certain circles closely connected with the Government of the USA. In contrast to this, the Soviet Government is conducting a consistently peaceful policy with respect to the USA and other states, is not establishing military bases in other countries and is not emitting any kind of threat toward anyone at all.
Further, there was recently formed a military union of western countries, including England, France, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg. At a time when all the treaties of mutual assistance concluded by the Soviet Union with the eastern countries, as well as with England and France, have as their aim the prevention of a new aggression on the part of Germany and are not directed against any allied state, the newly founded military alliance of the five western states, as is clear from the treaty, has in view not only Germany but may equally be directed against those states which were allies in the second world war. In all the English, French and American press it is openly said that this union is directed against the USSR. Furthermore, it cannot [Page 857] be overlooked that the formation of the stated military union was possible only thanks to the patronage of the Government of the USA. It is clear that the military treaty of the five western states can in no way be regarded as a treaty of self-defense.
The unfriendly character of the policy of the Government of the USA with regard to the USSR has its effect also in the realm of Soviet-American commerce. In accordance with the commerical agreement concluded between our two states, the Government of the USA is obliged not to apply in regard to the export of goods from the USA to the USSR, any more burdensome regulations or formalities than are applied in regard to any third country. However, the policy now conducted by the Government of the USA ignores this obligation and is in complete contradiction to the Soviet-American commercial agreement, setting up discrimination in regard to the USSR, regardless of the fact that the USSR is fulfilling in good faith its obligations under the aforementioned agreement. As a result thereof, the export into the USSR of American goods is disrupted, goods on which the USSR has paid deposits or even the full cost, a fact which injures the American firms concerned as well. The intolerability of such a situation is completely evident.
At the present time the Government of the USA declares that the US has no hostile or aggressive intentions with regard to the USSR, and expresses the hope of the possibility of finding a way to the establishment of good and reasonable relations between our two countries, together with a fundamental relaxation of the tension in international relations, and expresses its readiness to cooperate in such a stabilization of world conditions as would correspond as well to the interests of the security of the Soviet people.
The Soviet Government can only welcome this declaration of the Government of the USA, for, as is known, it has always carried on a peace loving policy and one of collaboration with regard to the USA which has always met with unanimous approval and support on the part of the peoples of the USSR. The Government of the USSR declares that in the future as well it intends to carry out this policy with complete consistency.
The Soviet Government also expresses the hope for the possibility of finding the means to eliminate present disagreements and to establish between our countries good relations which would correspond to the interests of our peoples, as well as to the consolidation of universal peace.