146. Letter From the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Thompson) to the Secretary of Stateʼs Special Assistant (Bohlen)0
Dear Chip: I note in todayʼs radio bulletin that the President has invited Adzhubei to lunch. This raises some questions in my mind. I must admit that his interview with the President1 was a ten-strike for us. This subsequent invitation however makes me wonder if it is really a good idea to build him up as much as we are doing. He is a forceful young man and is endeavoring to encourage young Communists to play a greater role in life here, which is all to the good. On the other hand, I believe that he is personally very anti-American and he is certainly a ruthless careerist. While I understand that the workers on his paper think that he is doing a useful service to Soviet journalism by introducing new practices, I do not think that he is personally respected and he has undoubtedly made many enemies. I doubt very much that he will survive them if anything happens to his father-in-law. Another point that bothers me is that Adzhubeiʼs paper has been running almost daily for some months vicious anti-American articles and cartoons.2 I donʼt like to see him rewarded for this type of thing. I would therefore dislike to see us get too tied to him, although this is of course a good way for the President to get thoughts to Khrushchev. I have no feeling whatever about my personal position in this, for as you know I can easily see Khrushchev at any time. I do think however that Khrushchev would like to undercut and diminish the role of the Secretary. While this is doubtless recognized and need not cause us concern, it doesnʼt seem wise to encourage the Soviets in the idea that they can do this. You may wish to discuss this subject with the Secretary or Pierre Salinger. In any event, I would keep my powder very dry in any dealings with Adzhubei.3
All the best,
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.61/1-2562. Secret; Official-Informal.↩
- See Document 134.↩
- Thompson had also made these points in telegram 2038 from Moscow, January 25. (Department of State, Central Files, 911.6261/1-2561)↩
- On February 5 Bohlen informed Thompson that he had shown this letter to the President before his second conversation with Adzhubei (see Document 150). Kennedy seemed to agree with what the Ambassador said, and Bohlen believed that it did some good. Bohlen also reported that he had dropped a few words with the White House staff as to what Moscow might be trying to do. (Department of State, Central Files, 611.61/2-562)↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩