761.00/7–2850: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bruce) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 28—10:45 a. m.]
511. High Interior Ministry official in charge political intelligence has informed Embassy officer that according his best Information Soviet objective now is to press China into war with. US so as to keep US immobilized in Far East for long time to come. While recognizing potential Soviet threats to Western Europe, he largely discounts possibility Soviet aggression in Europe for time being. This opinion is shared by chief French counter-intelligence who also foresees Soviet policy turned primarily toward Asia in period immediately ahead. Latter appraises Soviet strategy as seeking encompass ultimate conquest [Page 488] West by initial exploitation weakened Western positions in so-called colonial areas. While envisaging no slackening meanwhile of Communist efforts to soften up Western Europe from within, he sees Soviets now seeking rapid acceleration this process through incitement to colonial insurrection. Accordingly, he anticipates out-break series limited “civil wars” or “wars of national liberation” principally in Asian theater and patterned on Korean model without risk direct engagement Soviet prestige or armed forces. Stalin in his opinion proposes maintain fixed abscess in Far East, draining of which will cost him nothing while requiring such immense US budgetary costs and dispersion of efforts as to invite serious economic crises and internal disorders in West upon which Soviets will continue to rely for final dislocation Western world.
Department pass Moscow. Repeated info Moscow 24, London 148, Rome 59, Belgrade 10, Berlin unnumbered, Praha unnumbered.