33. Editorial Note

On February 25, at the final session of the 20th Party Congress, which was closed to all except party delegates, Nikita S. Khrushchev delivered a long speech denouncing STALIN for having executed without cause during the purges of the 1930’s thousands of military and political figures. For Khrushchev’s recollections of the origin of this secret speech, see Khrushchev Remembers, pages 346–350.

Ambassador Bohlen first heard of the speech on March 10 at a reception at the French Embassy and reported this in telegram 2045 from Moscow, March 12. (Department of State, Central Files, 761.00/3–1256) Bohlen’s recollections of his efforts to confirm the rumors about the speech are in Bohlen, Witness to History, pages 397–398. In telegram 2091 from Moscow, March 16, Bohlen reported that he was informed by a Western correspondent in Moscow that an unidentified Russian source indicated that the Soviet Government sent Tito a detailed summary of Khrushchev’s secret speech, which was apparently hand carried by the Yugoslav Ambassador in Moscow to Tito. (Department of State, Central Files, 761.00/3–1656)

Regarding the release of this speech, see footnote 3, Document 50.