Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume V

861.9111 RR/1–1549: Telegram

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

secret

Moscow, January 15, 1949—9 p. m.

107. Re Embtel 2640, November 15 [1948] and previous, Weekas November 12, 19, 26.¹ Soviet press recent days revives “peace” campaign² by featuring appeals for direct US-USSR negotiations by Kremlin stooges in USA. Much space given:

January 10 All-Slav Congress letter calling on President enter direct negotiations for liquidation cold war;

January 11 appeal of Shapley³ on behalf National Council Scientists, Artists, etc. Calling Congress cultural scientific workers “for restoration mutual understanding and cooperation US and Soviet Union”. Extensive quotes alleging US responsible cold war, American science and culture militarized and muzzled, US circumvention UN;

January 12 statement executive committee Progressive Party demanding President fulfill promises “by meeting Stalin for discussions on all basic differences between US and Soviet Union” and abandoning Atlantic Pact plans.

Quotes stress Acheson⁴ appointment paves way, makes possible immediate expert consultations to prepare meeting demanded by peoples both countries and world.

Evidently same line being followed Comintern⁵ elsewhere (Paris 136, January 12 to Department⁶) and will doubtless continue or be revived on every possible occasion.

As we see it this cynical and insidious campaign exploiting peaceful hopes of people everywhere is most successful Soviet gambit and has not been adequately exposed and countered by west. While leaving Soviet Government wholly uncommitted, it is craftily designed to leave impression tense world situation is fault, not of Soviet Union, but of west, especially US; initiative for settlement is thus up to US; settlement is possible; Soviet Government is just waiting to be asked. Since this is all directly contrary to truth, its falsity might be expected to be obvious to people everywhere. We are satisfied, unfortunately, that this is not case, thanks to shortness of man’s memory and to eternal wishful thinking of world’s non-Communists. Grasp of this fallacious idea even on experienced and supposedly enlightened statesmen (as well as difficulty combatting it) strikingly illustrated in SC decision and Evatt-Lie⁷ initiative on Berlin, and pious Mexican UN resolution.

We accordingly believe large-scale counter-propaganda campaign should be undertaken, pegged perhaps on fresh reiteration President’s frequent statement he would be glad to see Stalin in Washington at any time, and developed through speeches and VOA, designed to:

(1) Expose real purpose this Communist line; its utter dishonesty could not be better portrayed than in Kennan’s 878, March 20, 1946.⁸

(2) Review repeated occasions on which west has gone 90–100 percent of way to seek agreement, e.g. Tehran, Yalta, Potsdam. Recall how Soviet Government arrantly rejected opportunity seek settlement through Ambassador Smith-Molotov talks last springy instead warping and distorting Ambassador’s remarks to serve ends Soviet propaganda (Embtel 882, May 11⁹).

(3) Make clear initiative must rest with Kremlin, which responsible tense situation, not with US, and that in view Soviet recent perfidy, acts rather than words are required.

(4) Create public understanding there could be no “settlement” at any level without radical change Soviet aggressive policy, which is not to be expected; and that any partial “settlements” which might be obtained without Soviet policy change could only delude and betray peoples hopes.

(5) Develop calm, informed public acceptance of likelihood basic conflict not susceptible to real definitive settlement but confidence indefinite peace can and will be assured not by factitious “negotiations”, but by steadfast exertions, unbroken unity and increasing economic and military strength west.

Kohler

1. None printed. (Weeka was a name given to a series of weekly summary reports prepared in the Embassy in the Soviet Union.)
2. For additional documentation on the subject of a “peace offensive” in the propaganda maneuvers of the Government of the Soviet Union, see pp. 806 ff.
3. Dr. Harlow Shapley was the Director of the Harvard College Observatory.
4. Dean G. Acheson had been appointed to succeed Gen. George C. Marshall as Secretary of State.
5. The dissolution of the Communist (Third) International from the resolution adopted by the presidium of the Executive Committee of the Communist International on May 15 (published on May 22) recommending this action to the communiqué of June 10 of the presidium considering this organization abolished is described in Foreign Relations, 1943, vol. iii, pp. 532–543, passim.
6. Not printed. Ambassador Jefferson Caffery explained to the Department of State in telegram 219 from Paris on January 18 how recent developments in the Soviet-Communist peace drive could be viewed from there: “In other words basic directives being issued to party militants here for study as well as action boil down to conception that ‘peace’, the only real peace as understood by Kremlin may he achieved solely on Soviet terms and that the instincts of aggression fired by class struggle against American ‘imperialism’ should he encouraged as a method of security for Soviet Union and justification to its own people for its totalitarian regime.” (800.00B Communist International/1–1849)
7. Herbert V. Evatt was Minister for External Affairs of Australia and President of the General Assembly of the United Nations. Trygve Lie was Secretary General of the United Nations.
8. For telegram 878 from George F. Kennan, then Chargé in the Soviet Union, see Foreign Relations, 1946, vol. vi, pp. 721–723.
9. Not printed, but for documentation on the conversations between Ambassador Walter Bedell Smith and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Molotov in May 1948, see ibid., 1948, vol. iv, pp. 834–866, passim.