661.00/2–2150
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union ( Kirk ) to the Secretary of State
No. 198
Enclosed are condensed translations of two articles1 that appeared in Soviet State and Law No. 12, December 1949 on the general subject of Soviet foreign policy and its conduct as interpreted publicly by the policy-makers themselves. The first article, “The Great Leader and Teacher”, is the abbreviated transcript of a report delivered on December 19 at a general meeting of officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by A. Ya. Vyshinsky, present head of the Ministry. As the title and date of delivery suggest, the report was part of the general celebration of Stalin’s birthday. The author and the circumstances under which the report were delivered give more than usual authority to the views which Vyshinsky expressed.
Of particular interest were the frank admission that the long-range aim of Soviet foreign policy is world revolution, the claim that the USSR possesses not only the secret of atomic energy but the atomic bomb as well, and the review of Bolshevik strategy and tactics as basic to the conduct of a policy of world revolution. The October Revolution is exhibited as an example of how this policy should be conducted, with diplomacy considered subject to the “laws and principles” of this strategy and tactics. “It is impossible,” averred Vyshinsky, “successfully to conduct internal and foreign policy without mastering to perfection the art of the strategic and tactical struggle on the basis of Leninist-Stalinist strategic and tactical principles.…”
Despite these frankly revolutionary views, Vyshinsky evidently found no inconsistency in concluding that
“Comrade Stalin has repeatedly pointed to the peaceful character of Soviet foreign policy, the clear aims and tasks of which cannot threaten and in reality do not threaten anyone in the world”.
The Embassy believes that this recorded speech by the Soviet Minister of Foreign Affairs should be given broad distribution, including, [Page 1111] if possible, dissemination by the press. For this reason, it is requested that reproduction be handled by the Department.
F. I. Kozhevnikov’s2 article “J. V. Stalin on the Fundamental Principles of Contemporary International Law”, which is the second enclosure, is an interesting summary of previously stated concepts of international relations.
Minister-Counselor