961.60/10–1750: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Barbour) to the Secretary of State 1
886. More than half Pravda–Izvestia devoted to opening session second All-Union Conference Peace Partisans (October 16–18), in Moscow. Over 1,000 members. Unanimously elected Presidium includes writer Fadeyev; scientist Vavilov; Tikhonov, Chairman Soviet Peace Committee; and Metropolitan of Krutitsky and Kolomensky, Nikolai; Lysenko; Shostakovich, et cetera.2
Fadeyev set tone in opening by assailing American imperialism and supporting program forbidding atomic weapons; curtailing all kinds of arms and establishing control over such curtailment; condemning aggression and armed intervention in internal affairs nations; [Page 1263] peaceful solution Korean conflict by returning to normal procedure in UN; forbidding war propaganda in all countries.3
In lengthy speech, text printed, Tikhonov gave standard review peace partisan theme. Tikhonov compared Soviet budget Army and Navy (18.5 percent) with 76 percent US budget for armament. “The Soviet Union lowered by one and one-half times its expenditures for defense in comparison to 1940, while the USA increased by three and one-half times its military allocations in comparison to the same prewar year of 1940.” Tikhonov assailed International Committee for study of European questions for projecting atomic obliteration Soviet cities. Refers to incendiary statements Matthews;4 Spaatz5 (Newsweek) regarding risk involved in war with Russia later rather than now; 15 September report by AP reporter Fay concerning preventive war conversations in US.
On international situation speaker called seizure Formosa, bombing Chinese cities, and “recent passage over 38th Parallel of American interventionists” as final unmasking aggressive intentions American Government. Alleged US attacks Soviet plane and airfield said to have “aroused just indignation of people. The Soviet people are sharply watching the intrigues of the warmongers and will resist their provocations.”
Basic theme recent Truman speeches, Tikhonov said, that US seeks world rule and wants no agreement on problems of peaceful development of peoples.
Vavilov quoted from Electrical World (US) on profits originating Korean War, called on scientists refuse discoveries to warmongers.
Comment:
Peace propaganda follows usual line, with noteworthy concentration on US as peace enemy number 1. Demand for censure first government use A-weapon not played heavily; omitted Fadeyev speech although mentioned by Tikhonov. Allusion US attacks Soviet airplane, airfield given routine treatment, indicating lack of Soviet interest in build-up. Possible explanation may be desire evidence great restraint on part USSR as befitting its role as leader struggle peace partisans against warmongers, rather than stress military contacts two great powers. First reference by Soviet spokesman to crossing 38th Parallel Korea. Reference unaccompanied by threat of official Soviet or Chinese armed intervention.
- This telegram was relayed to Paris at 2:03 p. m. on October 17.↩
- Alexander Alexandrovich Fadeyev was a literary writer and novelist. Sergey Ivanovich Vavilov was a scientist, president of the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union. Nikolay Semënovich Tikhonov was a poet and a war correspondent at times during World War II. Nikolay (Boris Dorofeyevich Yarushevich) was Metropolitan of Krutitsy and Kolomna in the Russian Orthodox Church. Trofim Denisovich Lysenko was a biologist and geneticist. Dmitry Dmitriyevich Shostakovich was a composer and pianist.↩
- Further documentation on the attitude and response of the United States to the peace offensive of the Soviet Union is presented on pp. 261 ff. In regard to the peace propaganda of the Soviet Union at the General Assembly of the United Nations, see vol. ii, pp. 371 ff.↩
- Francis P. Matthews, Secretary of the Navy.↩
- General Carl Spaatz, U.S.A.F., retired, contributed a regular column to Newsweek at this time.↩