Office of the Historian

711.61/5–1148: Telegram

The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Durbrow) to the Secretary of State

secret   niact
us urgent
Moscow, May 11, 1948—noon.

880. Publication Tass communiqué on recent exchange views Ambassador and Molotov appears intended, while serving Soviet propaganda ends, at same time to allay public apprehension in US and elsewhere, including USSR, on lines, though in different form, suggested in Embtel 520, March 22. Assume Department has released [Page 859] full text minutes Ambassador’s remarks (Embtel 836, May 4) from which introduction and other portions of top significance omitted in Tass communiqué (Embtel 881).1

From psychological warfare point of view, unilateral publication seems effective coup on part Soviet Government, calculated to:

1.
Give impression USA felt obliged approach Soviet Government to try to find way to settlement outstanding issues and reduce international tension.
2.
Undercut USA leadership western countries by sowing element distrust among our friends not consulted in advance.
3.
Pass ball back to US for any further moves. Consequently, consider it essential that:
(a)
Department release, in addition to texts of minutes of talks, summary Ambassador’s further oral remarks not included therein (as contained Embtels 835, May 4 and 866, May 9 [10]).2
(b)
Department make clear our initiative was simple statement our position rather than a “proposal” for negotiations as described in Molotov memo; and that while we desire keep door open for any negotiations, they could only be contemplated on basis clear and concrete indication exact subjects Soviet Government would have in mind for discussion and agreement, emphasizing that actions speak louder than words (Deptel 478, April 29).
(c)
Leak of secret protocols to satellite treaties be expedited unless later information has raised doubt their authenticity. (Deptel April 19 to Paris,3 repeated Moscow 426 and previous.) In this connection, attention is drawn to distortion in Molotov memo describing Ambassador’s references to “rumors” of possible existence such protocols as his “declaration” such protocols exist.

Sent Department 880, Department pass London 51, Paris 126 for Ambassador Smith.

Durbrow
  1. This telegram, also from the Chargé in Moscow at noon on May 11, not printed, analyzed the Tass communiqué entitled “About Soviet-American Relations.” It had been issued during the night, and published in the central press on May 11. The text of Molotov’s reply of May 9 was given in full. Large portions of the statement by Ambassador Smith on May 4 were left out, which were indicated precisely in this telegram. (711.61/5–1148)↩
  2. On May 11 the Department of State released to the press the text of Ambassador Smith’s oral statement of May 4 (telegram 836), and the English translation of the reply by Foreign Minister Molotov on May 9 (telegram 867); Department of State Bulletin, May 23, 1948, pp. 679–683. A statement made by President Truman regarding the exchange of views was released on the same day by the White House; ibid., p. 683. On the following day a statement by Secretary Marshall was released, ibid., pp. 683–684; and a lengthier summary of the Secretary’s press and radio news conference of May 12 is printed, ibid., pp. 684–686.↩
  3. Telegram 1283, to Paris on April 19, not printed. It was suggested herein that arrangements could be made for the publication in the French press of the text of the economic agreement between Hungary and the Soviet Union (661.6431/4–1248).↩