Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, Central and Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume IV

711.5/12–2150: Telegram

The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Barbour) to the Secretary of State ¹

secret

Moscow, December 21, 1950—1 p. m.

1221. Following examples treatment Truman press conference November 30² and Truman–Attlee communiqué,³ Pravda December 19 ran two-column front-page editorial commenting on Truman’s state emergency proclamation.⁴ (Reference press telegram 1207, December 19, Paris 272.⁵) Although editorial adds little to usual Soviet arguments and allegations last paragraph reads:

“New aggressive measures in US cannot fail to attract attention of people of Soviet Union as well as peoples other countries. While expending their strength on peaceful work and continuing their efforts for the completion of the great plans of construction, the Soviet people, together with those activities, will increase its watchfulness (bditelnost) in relation to the aggressive, powers and especially in relation to all of their international intrigues.”

This statement is first indication to Soviet people from Soviet official at source that increased world tensions-may affect peaceful construction work and internal improvements which Soviet people have befell told is their principal means of strengthening international peace. Warning to Soviet people concerning recent increase international tensions may also foreshadow strengthening Soviet military preparations. This speculation strengthened by statement in editorial that US armed forces being increased to permit armed intervention not only in Korea; (Pravda quotes Truman reference, “in other parts of globe” to indicate further American intervention to be expected).

On other hand, the Soviet reaction to so serious a step as USA emergency declaration could have been more vigorous without being inconsistent with Soviets’ “peace policy”. The word “watchfulness” seems to have been carefully chosen in order to avoid alarming unduly Soviet people whose fear of war has grown as result of Korea.

Barbour

1. This telegram was relayed to Paris at 10:30 a. m. on December 21.
2. Text in Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Harry S. Truman, 1950, pp. 724–728.
3. For the joint statement of December 8 of President Truman and British Prime Minister Clement R. Attlee, see ibid., pp. 738–740, or Department of State Bulletin, December 18, 1950, pp. 959–961.
4. Proclamation 2914 proclaiming the existence of a national emergency, December 16, is printed in 15 Fed. Reg. 9029, or Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Harry S. Truman, 1950, pp. 746–747. See also the President’s radio and television report to the American people on the national emergency at 10:30 p. m., on December 15, ibid., pp. 741–746, or Department of State Bulletin, December 25, 1950, pp. 999–1003 (the Proclamation is also printed on p. 1003).
5. Not printed.