THE SOVIET UNION



Govt does not intend to modify procedure. I would be glad to learn
reaction of Dept and of publishers to this suggestion.
  If no improvement has set in within 10 days then question might
well be examined of what further measures might be taken. I am told
that Germans many years ago once broke similar attempt on part of
Soviet authorities to enforce blind censorship by threatening that all
German agencies and papers would receive their news about Russia
exclusively from German FonOff until Russians desisted from this
procedure. Another possibility that might be worth examining would
be that correspondents here be instructed to remain in Moscow but not
to file, or to file as little as possible, until further notice. I do not
think this would be pleasing to Russians. On other hand, I do not
think they would wish to take initiative in expelling correspondents
as a body. They might therefore prefer to make concessions.
                                                         KENNAN
861.00/3-2046: Telegram
The Charge in the Soviet Union (Kennan) to the Secretary of State

CONFIDENTIAL                       Moscow, March 20, 1946-noon.
                                           [Received 12: 31 p. m.]
  876. Personally attended last night's final session of Supreme Soviet
at which new Govt and Presidium of USSR were elected.
  It was interesting commentary on Soviet system that Kalinin, oldest
and most venerable member of Politburo, who had functioned for
some two decades in what was nominally highest position in Soviet
state, was dropped from this position without single speech of tribute
and without any highlighting of his past services and achievements.
While proposal for his retirement from position as President of
Supreme Soviet was read off and dutifully approved, he sat as usual
among his colleagues of Politburo and nothing in his behavior or
expression even indicated that he was aware that his name was under
discussion. He was not asked to make any remarks or even to stand
for an ovation and Stalin remained during entire procedure engrossed
in some papers he was examining and did not even join in perfunctory
applause with which audience greeted first mention of Kalinin's name.
  It should not be thought that Kalinin's failure to react to proceed-
ing was due to senility or ill health. Although he has recently suf-
fered from spells of ill health, he remains a wiry and active old man
with a brisk nervous energy, and he spent a good deal of time at these
recent Supreme Soviet sessions in animated conversation with Polit-
buro colleagues who, incidentally, yielded nothing to the other dele-
gates in their manifestations of boredom with the spiritless and
mechanical proceedings.



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