511.6141/10–2150: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Barbour) to the Secretary of State
902. Under heading “Harold Stassen’s Dirty Game,” Pravda October 19 plays prominently Y. Viktorov article.1 Embassy detects underneath Viktorov’s bluster a genuine concern neutralize effects Stassen’s move. It was inconceivable, of course, that Stalin would reply to the letter, even negatively. The assignment of Viktorov was designed to rebuff Stassen and lower tone of incipient discussion from interchange of two political leaders to barroom brawl. Rebuff designed to punch nose of politician shown as attempting use Stalin to advance political fortunes and having effrontery to suggest change in Soviet foreign policy.
Particularly necessary for Politburo to counter Stassen’s gesture because Stassen moved in on a favorite Soviet device, proposing a high level, hands across the sea, conference to ease tension. Unmasking this maneuver was vital hour [sic] USSR so that Soviet Union would not seem to be rejecting, before unsophisticated eyes, the very solution that USSR always urges for international conflict.
Embassy notes that Viktorov attempts to counter Stassen on employment and regulated capitalism, subject on which Stalin made no firm statements in the 1947 Stalin interview with Stassen. He omits mention of the point about US expansion of exports, raised by Stassen in the recent letter, on which Stalin did express a rather definite opinion in 1947.
Publication of reply may indicate need neutralize VOA dissemination Russia Stassen invitation. Although reply hardly seems tailored for American consumption, with fantastic unemployment figures, it may be designed not only for USSR but other regions, where ignorance and misconception about US can be used to Soviet advantage.
- For a commentary and reaction, see New York Times, October 21, 1950, p. 1.↩