711.21/1–1050: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Kirk) to the Secretary of State

70. Pravda January 9, Izvestiya January 10 print New York Tass1 item headed “sharp deterioration economic position US” on report economic advisers. Washington Tass item on President’s economic message Congress,2 total one column. Treatment same line as given State of Union message3 emphasizes drop production, growth unemployment and strikes, deficit federal budget, housing shortage, inadequacy Social Security, natural resources, education, health programs, drop wages and farm income, increase military expenses, decline exports.

Kirk
  1. Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union, the official communications organization of the Soviet Government.
  2. The President’s annual economic report was given to the Congress on January 6. For the text of the message, see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Harry S. Truman, 1950 (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1965), pp. 18–31. The message and complete report were printed as The Economic Report of the President Transmitted to the Congress, January 6, 1950 (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1950).
  3. This address was delivered in person before a joint session of the Congress on January 4. For the text, see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Harry S. Truman, 1950, pp. 2–11.