811.42700(R)/11–2346: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Smith) to the Secretary of State
urgent
[Received November 23—7:32 a.m.]
4212. Deptel 2016. 1. Embassy had had official discussion with Soviet Govt on broadcasting question in my long conference with Dekanozov (Embtel 417273) and in subsequent conversation between [Page 814] Durbrow and Tsarapkin74 when FonOff provided Embassy with text of its reply to Murrow’s telegram to Stalin (Embtel 4203). On both occasions American reaction to Soviet action was clearly pointed out and undesirability of Soviet move stressed. Soviet position, however, is explicitly stated in above-mentioned document from which it is apparent that Soviet Govt has no intention of permitting radio news broadcasting by foreign correspondents from Soviet territory. Question has been kept alive by correspondents and ourselves for over 6 weeks. This is clearly a top level decision.
2. I do not believe there are any grounds on which I can usefully make further representations. There is no question of reciprocity involved since there are no Soviet broadcasters in US nor of most-favored-nation treatment since American newscasters are alone here (apart from Danish Press Attaché who in past has done some broadcasting for Radio Denmark now terminated) and there are no other foreign broadcasters in Moscow.
3. Department will have noted that Soviet Govt made point of not withdrawing accreditation of broadcasters but stated they could remain as correspondents “and send their despatches in the usual way as was formerly done before the war”.
4. Soviet Govt has presumably not given real reasons lying behind its decision since excuse of limited technical facilities is difficult of acceptance. Embassy believes that among probable reasons are desire to avoid encroachments on censorship made possible by expression of broadcasters voice and intention to keep radio Moscow as pristine oracle of the faithful both with respect to Soviet as well as foreign audiences. For it must be remembered that American broadcasters’ transmissions from Moscow although beamed to US can be heard by local population with short wave receivers.
5. To conclude I believe that no further steps can appropriately be taken here in the matter and I suggest that the Department base any statement to the press on the substance of the Soviet reply to CBS which was communicated officially to this Embassy (Embtel 4203).