711.61/7–2346: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Smith) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 23—4 p.m.]
2258. During past 2 months Soviet propaganda offensive against USA has been stepped up while that against Britain has diminished.20
Anti-American campaign in Soviet press has sought to convince Soviet and world publics that USA has deserted Roosevelt heritage and is rapidly succumbing to militarist, imperialist and expansionist tendencies incompatible with international peace and security. This constitutes radical departure from previous line of editorial restraint [Page 769] toward US policy coupled with, continuous violent attacks on “British imperialism”. Shift is illustrated by scholarly handsprings of historian Tarle. In March he argued that USSR and USA have tradition of “unvarying political friendship” grounded in common basic interests. In June he voiced Soviet defiance of “pax Americana” and alleged Nazi pattern in US Govt labor policies.
Meanwhile, Soviet press has tended to tone down, though not to suspend, campaign against Britain. British policy in Middle East, Mediterranean, Indonesia and Spain is intermittently criticized, but “British imperialism” no longer looms up in Soviet propaganda as major menace in international political arena. This reorientation is strikingly reflected in Pravda article July 4 which cites statement of British trade unionist Selph that “worsening of Anglo-Soviet relations seriously disturbs me. Labor Govt is supporting reactionary policy of collaborating with imperialist America.” Selph, concludes Pravda, supported resolution of trade union conference that “Existing foreign policy difficulties, particularly with respect to USSR, will be overcome with aid of collaboration.”
Both these trends are necessarily a result of specific directives handed down by party propaganda authorities. We have had evidence of this in informal statements made to member of Embassy staff by a Soviet expert on foreign high education who was recently compelled by internal censorship authorities to delete favorable sections from an article on American higher education but subsequently cautioned by same organ to go easy in criticising British education. Also worthy of note is informal conversation at July 4 Spaso21 reception in which Soviet journalist who is personally quite friendly toward Americans told an American and Britisher in significant jest that he would “rather be in bloc” with latter than with former.
Finally, as perhaps another gesture toward Britain, Soviet Govt has without hesitation accepted Admiral Frazer’s22 suggestion that he visit USSR. He arrives Leningrad this week on carrier Triumph with destroyer escort.
We feel it would be an error to deduce from foregoing evidence that USSR has made a basic change in strategy. We believe rather that change is tactical one tentatively being tried out. Fundamental strategy remains same—to split Anglo-American alignment.
Explanation for shift probably lies in one or all of complex of reasons: (1) change of tactics because first experiment failed to achieve strategic end, (2) reaction of a hypersensitive amour-propre to toughened and more alert American policy, (3) an effort to cause [Page 770] anxiety in certain groups in USA who feel that a firm policy toward USSR may lead to serious consequences, and (4) a possible feeling that economic unrest and dissension in USA may now be more susceptible of exploitation than it formerly was.
- A letter from Ambassador Smith to the Secretary of State on July 18 enclosed a memorandum of the previous day, which stated in part: “Soviet propaganda is at the present time attacking the United States with an unremitting ferocity which not only equals but in certain respects exceeds the severity of its previous campaign against the British.” (711.00/7–1846)↩
- Spaso House was the residence of the American Ambassador in Moscow.↩
- Adm. Bruce Fraser, Baron of North Cape, Commander in Chief of the Eastern and Pacific Fleets, 1944–1946.↩