Evening star., 1943-08-23
Litviinoff
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tween the United States and Russia
now have tense overtones.
The Russian refusal to attend the
Quebec conference and the subSe-
quent announcement it had not been
invited together with the repeated
Russian dissatisfaction over lack of
large-scale second front and the
Russian establishment of the Free
Germany Committee all within re
cent weeks have contributed to a
widespread public feeling that we
are approaching the parting of the
ways with Russia and fed suspicious
that Russia is going to make sep
arate peace with Germany.
Mr. Litvinoff had one meaning
for the American public and an
other for the American Govern
ment. For the public he was a
symbol of the hope for Russian
American friendship For the Gov
ernment he was a disappointment
because he revealed time and again
that he was unacquainted with the
intentions of Russian policy-makers
Premier Stain and Foreign Min
lister Molotov.
Not Connected With Farley.
"Authorities closely associated
with the Quebec conference" told
the Associated Press in Quebec that
the Moscow announcement of the
Litvinoff change was not con-
nected in any way with the CON-
ference"
The statement was made in re-
sponse to inquiries based on specu-
lation that the withdrawal of Mr..
Lltvinov was a gesture of disap-
proval with the work of British
American leaders and also as
means of emphasizing RuSsias sec
ond-front desires.
It is considered significant that
Russian agencies of publicity treated
the change lightly. The Moscow
radio broadcast the news of Mr..
Litvinoff S recall as a simple factual
statement, and the Moscow news
papers gave the story little space
and put it on the back pages.
1t is remembered also that week
ago Ambassador Gromyko publicly
expressed the hope that cooperation
between Russia and the United
States may become ever closer"
Mr. Gromyko plainly is far re-
moved from the seats of Russian
decisions and ne has not been back
TO Moscow TO discuss current policy.
1t is probably that American spokes-
men will have as much difficulty in
obtaining form him adequate infor-
nation about Russian intentions as
they did from Mr.. Litvinoff.
The only place to do diplomatic
business with Russia during recent
years has been Moscow. and this
change of Ambassadors retains dom
nance for Moscow.
Russia has indicated time and
against, however, that for her the
problems of today are primarily mil
itary problems, and the Saviet main
tains large military mission here
which is on amicable terms with
American representatives The mis-
sion is considered we'll informed.
Mr.. Litvinoff has been in a diff
flcult personal rela ton with regard
to the two leading Russian political
flgureS-Premier Stain and Foreign
Minister Molotov.
Premier Stain dismissed Mr.. Lit
vinoff as Foreign Minister in 1899
after the Litvinof policy of CO.
operation with the Western powers
had seemed 10 fail in its aim of
maintaining the peace of Europe
He was succeeded by Mr.. Molotov
/ 10 whom Mr.. Litvinoff was response
BILE when here.
One suggestion made in Quebec
was that Russia might be maneuver-
/ ing to join in the next Allied war
! conference, a least to the extent of
/ having a highly placed observer
/ present. Mr.. Litvinoff, with his rec
ord of British American friendship
and his long espousal of interna-
/ tional collaboration to maintain
peace, might be the man for that
/ job.
/ There remained. too, a possibility
/ that with the changing fortunes of
war Russian foreign policy was on
| the threshold of some new develop
ment which lay within the field of
Mr.. LitvinofT's special skills.
Furthermore, there was always
/ the chance that the Ambassador S
performance in Washington had in
some way diSpleased the Kremlin
and he wa. being removed for that