Evening star., 1943-08-22
Litvin0ff Removal
Stirs Speculation
On Change in Policy
BY the Associated Press.

The Moscow broadcast announc-
ing that Maxim Litvinoff had been
relieved of his post as Ambassador to
the United States and Andrei Gro
myko had been named to succeed
him, did not come entirely as a
surprise to officials and diplomats
here.
1t set off speculation in diplomatic
circles, however, that the move
might herald a change in Soviet
policy and may possibly be an ex-
preston of Premier Stalin's dis
pleasure over the failure of the
Allies to meet the oft-expressed
Soviet appeal for second front in
Europe.
1t had been rumored ever since
Mr.. Litvinoff was called to Moscow
last May, ostensibly for routine
report to his government, that there
was more to his departure than met
the eye and that he would not re-
turn.
Almost at the same time Joseph E.
Davies, former United States Am
bassador to Russia, flew to Moscow
bearing a letter from President
Roosevelt to Stain. The contents
of the letter never were disclosed,
but the Davies journey was deemed
of such importance it was generally
referred to as his second mission
to MOSCOW
Lavishly Entertained.
Mr.. Davies was lavishly enter
tanned in the Kremlin. and there
was no surface indication that So
viet-American diplomatic relations
had cooled. But the rumors that
Mr.. Litvinofft would not return con-
tinued, and were revived with each
renewed expression of Moscow'S i'm
patience over the nonappearance OF
second front in Europe.
One version was that Stain had
called Mr.. Litvinoff home because
he failed in the vital task of per-
suading President Roosevelt that
second front must be opened at once
at whatever cost; another version
was that Stain would indicate a
major shift in Soviet policy by re-
placing Mr.. Litvinoff with diplo-
mat not identified with the policy of
close cooperation with the western
democracies.
The announcement of his removal
amid new rumblings of discomfort
in the Kremlin over delay in the
opening of second front, therefore
is regarded here as major devel-
opment in international diplomacy,
possibly foreshadowing momentous
change in Soviet policy.
May Retain Influence.
1t was pointed out, however, that
the announcement of Mr.. Litvinoff's
removal as Ambassador referred to
him as Assistant Commissar of For
eign Affairs. Some diplomats, for
that reason, cautioned against jump
ing at the conclusion that his re-
placement in Washington meant
also the eclipse of his influence in
Moscow.
1t was suggested that Stain, while
retaining Mr.. Litvinoff among his
chief advisers in Moscow, might
have chosen to express his displeas-
ure over second-front developments
by returning to a routine diplo-
matte representation in Washing
ton.
Andrei Gromyko, until yesterday
Counselor at the Soviet Embassy
and Charge d'Affaires since the de-
parture of Mr.. Litvinoff, is a suave
and competent Soviet diplomat, but
his name has never been synony-
nous throughout the world-as has
Mr.. Litvinoff 's-with a Soviet pol
icy of collaboration with the western
democracies.
Mr.. Gromyko attained prominence
In the Soviet Union as an econo-
mist and served for some years in
the Soviet Academy of Sciences.
Later he was assigned to the Com
missariat of Foreign Affairs in Mos
cow and in 1889 was sent to WASH
ington as Counselor
At the Soviet Embassy last night |
spokesman said official notification
of Mr.. Gromyko's appointment had
not yet been received.