20. Telegram From the Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Department of State/1/
Moscow, February 1, 1961, 4 p.m.
/1/Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.61/3-161. Secret; Limit
Distribution. Also printed in Declassified Documents, 1977, 73F.
1813. As new administration will apparently have to move rapidly in determining
our basic policy toward Soviet Union, I have attempted select, with no pretense
at originality, number of considerations which seem to me worthy of emphasis
this connection. Principal question I suppose is whether we should attempt
to reach accommodation with Soviet Union and resolve principal issues by negotiation
in serious manner; meaning being prepared take risks in order reach agreements.
While I gather from President's and other statements that decision in affirmative
has already been made, I think we should be under no illusions as to what
can be accomplished within reasonable period time. I am on balance strongly
in favor of making effort although there are substantial arguments against
it. In brief, any other course would in my opinion cause further disunity
in West, would greatly diminish our chances of influencing or winning newly-emerging
and neutral countries, and would probably eventually end in war.
Soviet people ardently desire peace and friendship with US, in which they
see best hope of peace and better life for themselves. Soviet Union is, however,
in control of small group Communist leaders and likely remain so for long
period time. It is on this leadership that I feel most qualified to speak
as I have probably had more contact with these men than any non-Communist,
but it is also here that I find most difficulty in reaching my own conclusions.
Khrushchev is dominant personality but quite possible he could disappear
from scene within next few years from natural or other causes, state health
and methods operation. Fact which I believe we must constantly remind ourselves
is that these men believing Communists. While true they are men who have ruthlessly
fought way to power, they have almost religious faith in their beliefs and
this motivates them to larger extent than generally believed. It is, of course,
true that no Communist regime will consider itself entirely safe as long as
there are powerful democratic, capitalist countries existing in world. It
also true, however, that these men are nationalists and there is constant
inner struggle between nationalism and their belief in Communism. This is
part of their continuing difficulty with Chinese Communists. Their experience
with Chinese Communists has made them realize, I suspect, that even all-Communist
world would leave them beset with enormous problems, but I repeat they believers
and will go on working toward goal of world Communism for long time to come.
To fail do so would be to deny faith which justifies their position of leadership,
but degree of effort and methods used are factors which our own policies can
influence. Khrushchev probably most pragmatic and least dogmatic of all, but
he basically as devout believer as any. He is reported once to have said something
to effect that if Communism did not demonstrate its superiority and prevail
throughout world, his life would have lost its meaning. Difficulty in appraising
such men well expressed by Yugoslav Dedijer in article in London Times when
he said "in every Communist leader there are different psychological layers
which contradict each other: Original revolutionary idealism, bureaucratic
attitudes developed over long Stalin phase Communist development, and finally
pragmatism derived from today's realities. These elements intermingled, and
often reactions to particular points depend on which layer has been reached."
When Khrushchev speaks as chief of state of his desire for peaceful solutions,
he quite sincere and therefore effective. (He is liked and admired by nearly
all my diplomatic colleagues.) At same time he has in his speech of January
6 frankly and bluntly expressed his Communist beliefs and policies. Most discouraging
aspect of East-West negotiations is that we both look at same set facts and
see different things and this complicates arriving at solutions. From their
visits to US, Khrushchev and some other leaders know that US is not ogre that
their propaganda paints, and Khrushchev has frequently said to me that he
realized it would take long time for US to come to Communism. Leadership convinced,
however, that there are circles (military, Wall Street, monopolists) which
are terrified by Communism as economic and social system and are disputing
with forces for good in US. As they look around world they can find plenty
of evidence which they can use to justify to themselves their belief in class
struggle. They pose everything in these terms and do not accept that our support
of rightist or reactionary governments motivated by our fear their attempt
obtain world domination for power reasons, and instead see it in terms of
exploiters banding together to maintain exploited in subservience.
Most hopeful aspect is that evolution which has taken place in Soviet Union
is proceeding rapidly. With abolition mass terror an element of democracy
has entered both party and country as whole. Soviet people have little interest
in international goals Communism, and tend be pro-American.
Their view of US and rest free world distorted through years of isolation
and intense propaganda, and they in general have come to accept Soviet system,
although they would like change and improve it. Nevertheless they exert constant
pressure toward accommodation with us. Year ago in my despatch 412/2/
I attempted describe some current strains within Soviet system and
I would today make little change in views there expressed although others
would be added. I see enormous problems ahead for Soviet leadership, but not
such as should lead us to expect any breakdown in system.
/2/Dated January 29, 1960. (Department of State, Central Files, 761.00/1-2960)
I am convinced that key to Khrushchev's policy, which I believe supported by bulk leadership, is that he believes if he can gain period of reduction tension and hopefully some diversion resources from armaments to productive purposes and possibly even aid in form credits and technology from West, he can lead Soviet Union into era Communism and, by way of example, set most of rest of world on path toward this goal. I am impressed by constant emphasis which all Soviet leaders with whom I talk put on desirability trade (and I am sure they have in mind credits and technological aid) with US. Whether or not Khrushchev actually said to Nehru that if he could have five years peaceful coexistence he could blow us over, remark is as Italians say "bentrovato."
Declaration Communist parties in Moscow, Khrushchev's January 6 speech and
Suslov's report to CC were surprisingly frank in showing that apart from concern
over possibility of war, Communists look upon their approach to West as
temporary expedient. Given situation in which Soviet party found itself in
relation to Eisenhower administration at time Moscow meeting of CP's it
had little alternative to compromise with Chinese Communist position since
it could not at that time demonstrate that there was any real possibility
accommodation with West. Extent to which Soviet party will be prepared modify
program outlined, should détente with West become fact, is something
which only time can demonstrate.
I am sure we would err if we should treat Communist threat at this time
as being primarily of military nature. I believe Soviet leadership has long
ago correctly appraised meaning atomic military power. They recognized major
war no longer acceptable means achieving their objective. We shall, of course,
have to keep our powder dry and have plenty of it, for obvious reasons.
Although non-military, Communist threat nonetheless lethal as it stands today,
and we shall be obliged devise better methods meet it or we will surely lose.
Communists look at everything in terms of victory and defeat and probably
realize that if Communist movement loses its dynamism it would risk breaking
up. Unfortunately Chinese Communists have considerably rejuvenated revolutionary
posture of Soviet party. Moreover, disunity of West and our failure meet challenge
presented by newly emerging countries as well as our failure deal adequately
with problems of Latin America, have presented tempting prospects even to
more mellowed Soviet Communists. On the other hand, even Soviet Communists
have strong strain of nationalism and if he can offer hope of period tranquillity
I would not exclude eventual complete break between Soviet and Chinese Communists.
Great question is whether strains within Communist bloc and more importantly
evolution of Soviet system will develop quickly enough to counterbalance added
economic power which successful completion their 7-year plan will give them.
Soviets are estimating they will over-fulfill plan by equivalent of $100 billion.
While doubtless exaggeration and while much of any excess will have to be
diverted to dealing with problem agriculture and to satisfy growing demands
their people, even one-fourth this amount if used, for example, for foreign
aid programs, subversion, propaganda, etc., evoke awesome possibilities.
This will be followed by separate telegrams on some specific foreign policy questions.
Thompson
FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES - 1961-1963 - Volume V - Soviet Union P 9