611.61/10–2351: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Cumming) to the Secretary of State
688. Emb has noted what appears be increasing tendency on part of Amer Govt officials and official spokesmen to refer to govt leaders of USSR as “Russian.”
Apart from fact that head man and some his chief assistants obviously not Russian, it seems to Emb most undesirable that there be any doubt as to group which US Govt considers responsible for state of affairs existing in Soviet Union and consequently throughout world.
It is not believed that it is intent our govt convey impression that Amer Govt and people are in conflict with and desirous suppressing Russian people, or any other national group. Soviet Govt is handling work of and entirely controlled by small group of men. Its basis is not Russianism. Russian people, in general, suffer from its existence as do other peoples within boundaries of USSR. Finally, [Page 1665] Russian people comprise clear majority of population of USSR as a whole. It obviously not in our interest to alienate such a group.