No. 762

511.61/1–2951

Memorandum by the Deputy Director of the Office of Eastern European Affairs ( Higgs ) 1

confidential

Subject: Pospelov Speech.2

After detailed consideration of the best course of action to be followed by the Department with regard to the Pospelov speech the line of action described below is recommended. Concurring in these recommendations are EE, P/POL, PL, OIR and WE.

Attachment No. 1 below is OIR Report CS 1.99, dated Jan. 24, 1951, entitled “Trends in Soviet-Communist Tactics,” analyzing on the first half-page, as marked, the context and significance of this speech.

Recommendations:

1. The Department should interject the Pospelov speech into public discussion in this country, attributing relatively small significance to it but making clear its contents.

2. The best mechanics for introduction of the speech, as suggested by SA/M, Mr. McDermott, would be to stimulate an official question concerning it from Senator Benton or Senator Connally, and arrange with Mr. McDermott to publicize at his regular press conference this question and the Department’s reply thereto.

3. The main facts which the Department should seek to emphasize in its reply are (a) American friendship for the Soviet people; (b) the falsity and distortions of Pospelov’s statements; (c) a broad but brief outline of the scope and history of American gestures in the interest of the well-being of the Russian peoples; (d) the introduction of a degree of doubt as to the professed Soviet desire for peace as contrasted with the incompatible actions of the Soviet authorities, of which the Pospelov speech is an example.

4. The above procedure would serve as the kickoff for an American “Friendship for the Russian People” campaign. A Congressional resolution on this subject is now drafted for action on the Hill a few days after the action suggested herein. It is possible that eventually an expression of popular “grass roots” sentiment of friendship may become both feasible and advisable.3

[Page 1529]

Attachments: (Nos. 2 and 3 are for approval by EUR, H and S/A)

1.
OIR Report CS 1.99, dated Jan. 24, 1951, entitled “Trends in Soviet-Communist Tactics,” first page marked as stated.4
2.
(Attachment 2) A draft of the questions which Senator Connally or Senator Benton would be requested to ask the Department.5
3.
(Attachment 3) A draft of the Department’s official reply to the Senator to be publicized together with the Senator’s question by Mr. McDermott. VOA scripts meeting the Pospelov attack would be released with the Department’s official reply to the Senator.5

It is requested that priority consideration be given to the review of these drafts by the offices to which they are sent. An effort is being made to carry through this entire procedure in time for Mr. McDermott’s statements to be made at his press conference on Tuesday, January 30, at 12 noon. Upon receipt of telephoned notification of approval from addressees of this memorandum, EE–Mr. Reinhardt’s office will work out further procedure with H, SA/M and P.6

  1. Drafted by Holder (EUR/EE); addressed to Bonbright (EUR), B. H. Brown, Jr. (H), and Jessup (S/P).
  2. On January 21, the anniversary of the death of Lenin, Marx-Engels-Lenin-Stalin Institute Director Pospelov delivered a speech before Stalin and other high Soviet officials which was highly critical of the United States. For text of the speech, see Current Digest of the Soviet Press, vol. III, No. 1, February 17, 1951, pp. 1–6, or Department of State Bulletin, February 12, 1951, pp. 257–261.
  3. Regarding this Congressional resolution, see the letter from the Secretary of State to Senator Connally, Document 769.
  4. Not printed.
  5. Not printed, but see footnote 6 below.
  6. Not printed, but see footnote 6 below.
  7. On January 31 the Department of State released to the press the text of a letter, dated January 26, from Senator McMahon to the Secretary of State asking for the Secretary’s reaction to the Pospelov speech of January 21 together with the Secretary’s reply of January 31, as sent by Assistant Secretary McFall. The exchange as printed is the same as drafted in the Department of State and attached to the source text. Included as an enclosure to McFall’s letter was the text of the Pospelov speech. For text of the exchange, see Department of State Bulletin, February 12, 1951, pp. 256–261.