Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, Europe: Political and Economic Developments, Volume IV, Part 2

No. 795

032/7–2851: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Kirk) to the Secretary of State ¹

confidential

Moscow, July 28, 1951—3 p. m.

158. RefEmbtel 155, July 28, rptd London 25.² Treatment of Quaker del shows Sovs attached some seriousness their visit. Emb does not recall that so much attention paid by Sovs to free world non-Commie, non-official del since immediate post-war years. Based on second-hand reports, chief impressions made on del by Sovs may be perhaps as follows:

1. Though Sovs present many obstacles in reconciling E–W difficulties their attitude not obdurate and at least they willing to listen and discuss with some reasonableness.

2. Renewed effort shld be made by West to discuss current tensions with USSR in effort to reduce them.

3. West (meaning mainly US) has been remiss and should take advantage of present change in Sov tactics (as exemplified by Malik peace speech and new publication News) to renew negotiations with Sovs. (Bailey told Western correspondents and perhaps Sovs that he personally thought Western position at Paris had been too intransigeant). If these are the correct impressions obtained by Quakers they suggest Sov venture of inviting del was at least partially successful. Sovs also obtained first rate advice on how to make their propaganda more palatable and convincing to West.

One danger to West from above impressions, if they disseminated in UK and elsewhere, is that since Quakers as result religious convictions deny any good comes from force they unable to concede that current apparent change, if any, in Sov tactics may result from imperfect but real success of UN collective resistance aggression in Korea and also to US and free world rearmament.

Kirk

1. Repeated to London.
2. Telegram 155 reported that the British Quaker delegation visiting the Soviet Union (see telegram 147 from Moscow, supra) held a press conference on the evening prior to their departure for Great Britain. American correspondents attending the conference felt the Quakers refrained from giving Soviet-biased propaganda answers to questions, and although the conference was never unpleasant, it was far from enthusiastic. (032/7–2851)