761.00/7–1053: Telegram
No. 604
The Ambassador to the Soviet Union
(Bohlen) to
the Department of State1
150. In attempting to assess the political significance of the announcement of Beria’s arrest, I believe it important to recognize that Beria’s arrest in all probability, if not certainty, occurred on June 27 or immediately prior thereto.2 The rumor in Moscow of his disgrace was as reported linked to his absence at the opera on the night of June 27 coupled with the sight of tanks proceeding to the center of the town at approximately 5 p.m. that day. Since, in general, rumors affecting top Soviet personnel follow and do not precede the event, I believe we can accept the fact that his arrest occurred some 12 days prior to its announcement. I would therefore suggest that the actions taken by the Soviet Government since June 27 in the political field, in particular the announcement of the new policy in Hungary, made on July 4, should be carefully examined before arriving at any hard and fast conclusion that Beria was the proponent of the line of relaxation. I can only state on this score that I have not seen any evidence since my arrival in Moscow to confirm this view.
While there is no evidence to the contrary, in the logic of things it is at least questionable whether the head of the secret police by the nature of his responsibility would be in favor of relaxation with all of its obvious consequences.
In my opinion the point to watch with particular attention is the extent and depth of the purge throughout the Soviet Union which may follow the arrest of Beria. A large scale purge of the type which would certainly have followed during Stalin’s time an event of this importance would require a reversal of internal and external policies pursued by the new direction since the death of Stalin. I believe that until this element in that situation clarifies that it is not possible to assess the full political significance of his arrest.
I expect to be in Paris for at least 3 or 4 more days and am telling the press that there is no change in my plans, but will of course await Department’s instructions.