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EDDRE "MONS
6262 ddd
PPF
7979
file
P.P.E. Ed
GF HAY-ADAMS HOUSE RP
COMPLETELY
797
AIR CONDITIONED
washington, D.C.
Feb. 2', 1442
Dear Mr. Garly: sam the after Pres Pala4/42
I have noi had the pleasure of
meeting you. but I feel I newtper
the
now presume to irrorging ask for on appoint
le.
xpp79
Ment to discuss an internew with
hanks
The President.
0
g you
I am soon going abroad as war
cirrespondens -for the Saturday Evening
Post, and it occurs to me that in
this connection Inoght be of
spe some use to Th. Rossevent.
his
in
e.
dr/dj
in M
-2-
There are also two or three matters
If you wish me to be more
about The the Eactern situation
specific in malury this cle-
which I should like to discuss
qreen I inved be qualified for
with The Pren dens of the time
an appoin theme to then over
C6n be spared.
The matter.
Sincerely yours
I hore not ashed for this oppor-
timity before Simply because 2
Edgar flow
nerer feet I had anything to soy
P.S. a message by phone would
of suffinent importance to occupy
the Presiden's tune. how perkaps,
reach me ai Senerson 1370.
a letter to the above
in view of my long revidence 5
address or So Henry Collins Eog.
study me The the Earn, I might
3112 Rodinon Road,
he t some help.
P. P. Ed
7979
February 28, 1942.
his
Dear Mrs. Snow:
in
I am indeed delighted to have the
e.
copies of your books and also the article.
xpp79-73
I have learned a great deal from them,
especially about Korea. Ever so many thanks
for sending them to me. *1143
With every best wish, and I do
hope I shall have the pleasure of seeing you
one of these days,
Very sincerely yours,
(Sgd) FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT
Mrs. Edgar Snow, #
3112 Rodman Street, N. W.,
Washington, D. C.
fdr/dj
MRS. EDGAR SNOW
MUNGERTOWN ROAD R.F.D. No. I
MADISON, CONNECTICUT
3112 Rodman Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C.
February 24, 1942.
Dear Mr. President:
My husband has suggested that I send
you some material on Korea which I happen
to have.
his
n
I have an article coming out in Pacific
Affairs, March quarterly, of which I enolose
x
a carbon copy.
I am also sending the autobiography of
a Korean, SONG OF ARIRAN, which I edited, but
which is as nearly like the original story told
to me as I could leave it aside from converting
it into more readable English.
I am also sending you a copy of my book
on the Chinese Industrial Cooperatives, CHINA
BUIID S FOR DEMOCRACY, which was actually written
X150-A
for you indirectly though I never expected you
to read it. I had you back in my mind all the
time as the great hope for trying to get some
American support for the movement.
With much admiration,
Very sincerely,
Nym Wales Myme Wales
XA
(Mrs. Edgar Snow.)
The Honorable Franklin D. Roosevelt,
The White House,
RPF
AKB
March 24, 1942.
7979
Respectfully referred for consideration and acknowledgment.
M. H. McINTYRE
Secretary to the President
Letters to the President: Referred to the War Department.
INTROCASO, Nicholas D. Jr., 779 Montgomery St., Jersey City, N. J.,
3/19/42. Seeks position in the Intelligence Reserve or active
his
service of the United States Army with commission.
in
SUGDEN, John, Chester, Miss., 3/18/42. Wishes to serve his country
e.
as a pilot in the air service. Encs. (3).
STEWART, Mary L., Byron, Minn., 3/18/42. Asks that the sale of
liquor in the around army camps be forbidden.
STRINGER, M. W. Jr., 1st Lieut. A.C:C.S.G., 1104 Mohawk St., Los
Angeles, Calif., no date. Suggests creating and organizing
a special unit, perhaps akin to the French Foreign Legion,
for those men who have served prison sentences for commission
of felonies.
KING, Captain J. Olen, 1200 N. E. 102 St., lliami, Fla., 3/19/42.
Encloses plan for immediate long-range delivery of pursuit
aircraft to distant combat units. Enc. (1).
JOHNSON, Austin G., 324 N. Bright Ave., Whittier, Calif., 3/16/42.
Suggests the President read the article in March 14th Saturday
Evening Post on "How to Blockade Japan" by Edgar Snow; and
send a copy to Mr. Churchill.
ABNEY, Mary C., 190 Alberta St., Charleston, S. 0., 3/19/42. Urges
that help be sent to our boys in Bataan.
GRIGNON, Neal G., 94-24 Northern Blvd., Jackson Heights, Queens,
New York City, 3/19/42. Suggests creating a would be Scientific
Board of Engineers and Scientist to invent, would be Buck Rogers
fantastic warefare inventions to create a curiosity among our
people and the Axis Nations.
DENNING, James W., 215 McDaniel St., Dayton, Ohio, 3/19/42. Has an
idea on a high-flying bomber. (Chief of Ordnance).
PPE
MCB
March 26, 1942.
Respectfully referred for consideration and acknowledgment.
7979
M. H. McINTYRE
Secretary to the President
Letters to the President, referred to the War Dept.:
sergent, 0. 1=, 421 E. Lake Ave., Ladysmith, Wis., 3/18/42. Refers
to article by Edgar Snow which appears in the March 14th issue of the
Saturday Evening Post entitled "How to Blockade Japan." Mr. Snow
says this can be done by arming and organizing the millions inside
: his
Asia who are against the Japanese. Writer believes this is worthy
in
of consideration.
LEWIS, Wm., 620 N. 8th St., Fort Smith, Ark., postmarked 3/18/42. Re:
se.
suggestions for coastal and aerial defense.
n
GRAHAM, Josephine Frank, 1103 Chamberlain Hotel, Des Moines, Iowa, 3/19/42.
Suggestions to help win the war.
DURAN, Alfred, 790 Grand Concourse, New York, N. Y., 3/19/42. Suggestions
which might be of value in defeating the enemy. Map encl. Reg.
BAILEY, Ge orge H., Richmond Hill, N. Y. (no add add), 3/19/42. "In
reference to my note, mailed to you 2/6/42, why the delay? Why
must we cater to the War Dogs and Profiteers? By doing what my
note suggests the War would be at an end in about 30 days. Reg.
Letter of 2/6/42 referred to War Dept.
BALCHER, F., 309 W. 53 St., I. Y. C., 3/20/42. Letter to Mr. Early
calling attention to article in 11. Y. Times, by Ir. Brigham,
in which it is stated, that the German General Von Heeb is said to
have urgently advised the Japanese to desist from attacking Australia
at present time and to concentrate on India. Refers to previous
letter.
BOYER, William, Captain, Iractive Reserves, c/o Northern "atch Co., 109
Enuicott Bldg., 350 Robert St., St. Paul, Minn., 3/22/42. Calls
attention to source of trained manpower in Inactive Reserves which
remains untapped but which S tands ready to take active part in
the war effort. Cites own case.
RUFFALO, Alfred, 17 Clinton St., Youngstown, Ohio, 3/23/42. Left job
as Jr. Inspector at Lecumesch, Mich., because he found he was to
work 8 to 12 hours per day, 7 days a week, without overtime pay.
Realizes that he made is mistake and seeks aid in obtaining rein-
statement SO that he may do his part in war effort.
SCOTT, B. Clarice, 2108 V. Chestnut St., Louisville, Ky., 3/19/42. "I
doubt whether or not my letter of 3/14/42 has reached you as yet.
If it has this is to say that the matter has been cleared up in a
satisfactory manner, and I have been reinstated as a field worker
with the Old Age Assistance Div. of the Dept. of Velfare of our state."
Referred to F. S. 4., Social Security Board.
St. Paul's Chapel of the Road
DIRECTED BY THE REV. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN ROOT, D.D.
14/16/42
Present address Canutillo Texas
they
April the IIth'42
PPE
To the Secretary of the President of the U.S.
Washington, D.C.
7979
My dear Sir:
I have just read a letter from Young Edgar Snow telling of his
interview with the President-Young Snow is going in to the Far East again
He is a wonderful boy.
His father is a brother of my wife so my interest is intense.
I should like the President to know that I an Episcopal clergyman am
touring this whole Southwest in a Chapel Trailer in the interest of
National Defence- I am speaking to thousand of boys and girls in the
Schools urging them to buy Defence Stamps.
I plan to continue clear through to the East Coast
in this thrilling Defence Experirnce.
Thank You
Yours Very Sincerely
Beryann Gauklin Root Root
X
P.S Will you please be 80 kind to let me know if this
letter reaches you-THANK YOU.
We Must Win This War
April 16, 1942
My dear Dr. Root:
Your letter of April eleventh has been
received and will be brought to the President's
attention. I know that he will be appreciative
of your thought in writing to him.
Very sincerely yours,
M. H. McINTYRE
Secretary to the President
Reverend Benjamin Franklin Root, D.D.,
St. Paul's Chapel of the Road,
Canutillo,
cMc
Texas.
We Must Win This War
"THAT FOR THE JAPS."
"AXES FOR THE AXIS"
"BUY DEFENSE STAMPS"
A Patriotic Entertainment
Mystery, Instruction, Enlightenment.
Part One
"REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR"
Seven pleasing effects in routine displaying "E Pluribus Unum".
Part Two
"BUY DEFENSE STAMPS"
"KEEP 'EM FLYING"
Presented by "Willie Higgins", Dr. Root's "Dummy"
Part Three
LONDON PUNCH AND JUDY
Immortal Characters of all Time.
Hilarious, funny, laughable, glorious, spooky, charming.
Presented by Dr. Benjamin Franklin Root.
"HITLER WILL FALL"
The Evil of the World swallowed up in Victory.
ASCARATE SCHOOL
+Ysleta Texas
Friday 10-15AM
April 24
The Episcopal Church In U. S. A.
An American Church
The Epistenal CharchinesA
Ax AMERICAN CHURCH
Democracy Christianity
Chapel
the
Road
Directed
les
Neb
ST. PAUL'S CHAPEL OF THE ROAD
Conducted by REV. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN ROOT, D.D.
The Church of two-thirds of the signers of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence-The Church of the greatest number of the Framers of the
Constitution.
The Church of Washington, Paul Revere, Benjamin Franklin, Henry
Clay, Daniel Webster, Light Horse Harry Lee, Washington Isving, Francis
Scott Key (Author of the Star Spangled Banner), Robert E. Lee, Franklin
D. Roosevelt, and many others who have figured in American history.
Many letters have been received concerning this "Trailer Chapel Plan"
-Too numerous for space to permit full quotations.
"An excellent plan."-Rt. Rev. George Craig Stewart, D. D., Late
Bishop of Chicago.
"An Apostolic venture".-Rt. Rev. James E. Freeman, D.D., Bishop of
Washington, D.C.
"An excellent idea".-Anson Phelps Stokes, D. D., one time Secretary
of Yale.
"A moving about ministry".-Rt. Rev. James M. Maxon, D. D., Bishop
of Tennessee.
"Congratulations on the work which you are doing."-Rt. Rev. Henry
W. Hobson, D.D., Bishop of Southern Ohio.
ASCARATE SCHOOL
Ysleta Texas
Friday 10-15AM
April 24
USE
I
fell
er 29, 1944
THE CURTIS
PUBLISHING COMPANY
PHILADELPHIA 5, PA., U.S. A.
MRS. BOETTIGER ON MONDAY OCT. 2nd.
GENERAL WATSON TO CHECK WITH
TSON
1944
PP7
bimai
ord.
7979
Edgar Snow
lad to read
lunchtime
od health
So
week or when-
sia, India,
5
1.
for the
ich I
ack in this
tten a book,
his time
D. R.
I hope!
Le,
ment or
hat you
ow?
pp77
X
en I got
1,
to you
(The President gave Mrs. Boettiger
ng to keep
a letter from Mr. Snow together
le I might
with 8 lengthy repòrt on Russia. 9/29/44
sia or China.
Mr. Snow writes for The Saturday
iday and
Evening Post)
1d wish to
madison, Corn.
X 220-A 220 -A
on "What
R andom House, n.y,
0 say that
eem to me a
en to the
ration for
Respectfully Edgan snow yours, #
The president of the United States
The Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt
after Dains may
26
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
fell
for luncheon with you and Anna.
September 29, 1944
THE CURTIS
PUBLISHING COMPANY
PHILADELPHIA 5, PA., U.S. A.
wanted to see him for half an hour appointment or
You told me before you went to Hyde Park that you
3. When did you wish to see Edgar Snow?
MEMORANDUM FOR
GENERAL WATSON
1944
PP7
I want to see Edgar Snow
7979
for a half-hour or at lunchtime
lad to read
od health
with Anna in about a week or when-
So
sia, India,
ever he can come down.
for the
5
ich I
ack in this
tten a book,
is time
F. D. R.
I hope!
pp77
X
en I got
Le,
(The President gave Mrs. Boettiger
to you
1,
a letter from Mr. Snow together
ng to keep
with 8 lengthy report on Russia. 9/29/44
le I might
sia or China.
Mr. Snow writes for The Saturday
iday and
Evening Post)
ld wish to
co
madison, Corn.
X 220-A 220
R andom House n.y,
on "What
0 say that
eem to me a
en to the
ration for
Respectfully yours,
Edgan snow #
The President of the United States
The Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt
after
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
fell
THE CURTIS
"
September 29, 1944
PUBLISHING COMPANY
PHILADELPHIA 5, PA., U.S. A.
MEMORANDUM FOR
1944
GENERAL WATSON
PP7
7979
I want to see Edgar Snow
glad to read
for a half-hour or at lunchtime
good health
sks.
with Anna in about a week or when-
notinfile 10-13-44. RVS
ussia, India,
S
t for the
ever he can come down.
which I
1 back in this
written a book,
1 this time
copy Mis memo
1, I hope!
F. D. R.
pP77
Le,
when I got
1,
X
1k to you
(The President gave Mrs. Boettiger
rying to keep
a letter from Mr. Snow together
sible I might
with 8 lengthy report on Russia. 9/29/44
Russia or China.
Mr. Snow writes for The Saturday
Friday and
hould wish to
Evening Post)
madison, Corn.
X 220-A 220 -A
ost on "What
R andom House, n.y,
t to say that
t seem to me a
open to the
eparation for
Sectfully yours,
Edgan snow #
The president of the United States
The Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt
after
pr7
THE WHITE house
fell
washington
7979
October 12, 1944
fell
THE CURTIS
PUBLISHING COMPANY
PHILADELPHIA 5, PA., U.S.A.
MEMORANDUM FOR THE FILES:
General Watson phoned Edgar
Snow's home at Madison, Connecticut,
#
October 11, 1944, and was informed
1944
PP7
that Mr. Snow was overseas for
several months.
7979
lad to read
od health
S.
ssia, India,
S
for the
nich I
back in this
itten a book,
RB
this time
I hope!
Le,
then I got
i,
: to you
ing to keep
ble I might
issia or China.
Friday and
buld wish to
st on "What
to say that
seem to me a
open to the
paration for
Respectfully Edgan snow yours, #
The president of the United States
The Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt
after 26
5-22-44
Internation
Respectfully referred to
appr of
fell
THE CURTIS
the President.
Emil
Thing
PUBLISHING COMPANY
Darday
PHILADELPHIA 5, PA., U.S.A.
E.
1944
PP7
7979
Like millions of other people I was very glad to read
that you are back in the White House in good health
and ready to continue with your great tasks.
Since I saw you in 1942 I have been in Russia, India,
Africa: and Britain as a war correspondent for the
5
Post. Now and then I sent you messages which I
thought might interest you. I have been back in this
country on a leave during which I have written a book,
and now I am about to go overseas again, this time
direct to Moscow-and later on to Berlin, I hope!
I believe you suggested I might come in when I got
Le,
back, and I would very much like to talk to you
before leaving; but 1 realize you are trying to keep
down your appointments. It is just possible I might
be of some service to you, however, in Russia or China.
I will b e in Washington next Thursday, Friday and
Saturday, before my departure, if you should wish to
see me for any reason.
I read Forrest Davis' articles in the Post on "What
Really Happaened at Teheran", and I want to say that
the policy he attributes to you does not seem to me a
"gamble", but the only course of action open to the
leader of our government, other than preparation for
the third world war.
With sincere regards and deep esteem,
Respectfully yours,
Edgan snow #
The president of the United States
The Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt
after Dries may 20
THE SATURDAY
EVENING
fell
POST
THE CURTIS
EDGAR SNOW
FOUNDED BY
PUBLISHING COMPANY
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
PHILADELPHIA 5, PA., U.S. A.
May 21, 1944
PP7
Dear Mr. President:
7909
Like millions of other people I was very glad to read
that you are back in the White House in good health
and ready to continue with your great tasks.
Since I saw you in 1942 I have been in Russia, India,
Africa: and Britain as a war correspondent for the
Post. Now and then I sent you messages which I
S
thought might interest you. I have been back in this
country on a leave during which I have written a book,
and now I am about to go overseas again, this time
direct to Moscow-and later on to Berlin, I hope!
I believe you suggested 1 might come in when I got
back, and I would very much like to talk to you
1e,
before leaving; but 1 realize you are trying to keep
d,
down your appointments. It is just possible I might
be of some service to you, however, in Russia or China.
I will b e in Washington next Thursday, Friday and
Saturday, before my departure, if you should wish to
see me for any reason.
I read Forrest Davis' articles in the Post on "What
Really Happaened at Teheran", and I want to say that
the policy he attributes to you does not seem to me a
"gamble", but the only course of action open to the
leader of our government, other than preparation for
the third world war.
With sincere regards and deep esteem,
Respectfully yours,
Edgan snow #
The President of the United States
The Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt
after 20
OTHER wome STATE
may 26
THE SATURDAY
or 27
EVENING
POST
EDGAR SNOW
THE CURTIS
FOUNDED BY
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
PUBLISHING COMPANY
PHILADELPHIA 5, PA., U.S. A.
e
May 21, 1944
Dear Mr. Early:
I am enclosing a letter to the rresident and
I would be grateful if you would kindly deliver
it.
If Mr. Roosevelt should wish to see me, I can
nts
be reached at the rost till Thursday; qfter
that I will be in Washington at the Hay-Adams
House till Saturday night.
With all good wishes,
me
Яdga Sincerely Snow yours,
ttle,
ded,
Mr. Stephen T. Early
White House
n
om
pp7
EDITORIAL ROOMS
7979
THE SATURDAY
1944
EVENING
POST
BEN HIBBS
FOUNDED BY
THE CURTIS
EDITOR
upon
PUBLISHING COMPANY
have
PhILADELPHIA 5
the
tropole Hotel
by
MOSCOW,
them
August 14, 1944
Dear Miss Le Hand:
per.
is one
The President suggested that I might write him a
letter, giving him my impressions on my return to
Moscow. I have probably far "overfulfilled the
but the
plan", as the Russians would say. If it should fall
the place,
to your lot to digest the letter, please excuse the
sy to go
typing and the paper. They are the best I can do
ancing at
with the material available.
a few points
I wrote a book recently, called "People on Cur Pide"
and thinking it might interest you I asked the pub-
by the
lishers to send you a copy. It was chosen by the
all. I came
Book of the Month Club, so if you are a member of
ne victory
that worthy institution you will probably find yourself
of the battle,
snowed under, all things, including this letter, con-
re surrounded,
sidered.
isred. It
ite, then.
All the best to you--and thanks for guiding me into
n, and you
the right entrance in the Oval Room!
fferent
xpression
Sincerely yours,
crubbed from
X220-A
the winter
_dgar Snow #
1944
20
COMANDAMENTUL ARMATEI Rosu
upon
BP DOUE DECI 500027
20
have
the
by
BP 500027
them
PRIMIRE
2011
per.
ÎN TOATE PLATILE ESTE
is one
OBLIGATOARE
1944
Here I shall write to you in rathel
but the
general appearance of things, and about the "feel" of the place,
as compared with my last visit. But if you are too busy to go
through all these lines you might then save time by glancing at
the last page, where I shall try to summarize and make a few points
which I think might possibly interest you.
First, I should say my impression this time is colored by the
fact that I hadn't seen Russia before in the summer at all. I came
here late in October, 1942, and left not long after the victory
at Stalingrad--which I visited twice during the course of the battle,
once when I got to the outskirts, after the Germans were surrounded,
and the second time after Marshal Paulus had surrenderder ed. It
was a cold half-twilit country masked everywhere in white, then.
In Moscow it grew dark at four or five in the afternoon, and you
seldom saw the sun. Now, in the summer, it seems a different
country, altogether different.in appearance and in the xpression
people wear on their faces. The camouflage has been scrubbed from
tense scowl everyone wore in the winter
Do
From: Edgar Snow
Correspondent, The Saturday Evening Post
Moscow
August 14, 1944
Dear Mr. President:
You were kind enough to ask me to write you my impressions upon
my return to Moscow and Russia, and this is the attempt. I have
been back here now for nearly two months, and that is about the
time-limit for impressions; after that one has to be struck by
everyday things in some unusually dramatic combination for them
to arrest attention and cause reflection, apparently.
I trust you will excuse me for writing on such wretched paper.
There is still a severe shortage in many items, and paper is one
of them. even this stuff is strictly rationed.
Here I shall write to you in rather leisurely manner about the
general appearance of things, and about the "feel" of the place,
as compared with my last visit. But if you are too busy to go
through all these lines you might then save time by glancing at
the last page, where I shall try to summarize and make a few points
which I think might possibly interest you.
First, I should say my impression this time is colored by the
fact that I hadn't seen Russia before in the summer at all. I came
here late in October, 1942, and left not long after the victory
at Stalingrad--which I visited twice during the course of the battle,
once when I got to the outskirts, after the Germans were surrounded,
and the second time after Marshal Paulus had surrenderdsred It
was a cold half-twilit country masked everywhere in white, then.
In Moscow it grew dark at four or five in the afternoon, and you
seldom saw the sun. Now, in the summer, it seems a different
country, altogether different in appearance and in the xpression
people wear on their faces. The camouflage has been scrubbed from
buildings--and the grim, tense scowl everyone wore in the winter
also seems largely scrubbed away. Part of this is just summer
with its warmth and light; Russian character changes with the seas-
ons. But a lot of it is attributable to the consciousness of vic-
tory, the feeling that the worst is over, the confidence that
there will be a future when everything will be better--nothing
could be worse-than life has offered during the past three years.
People here seem to be following the war less closely now that
the offensive has reached Poland and our own forces are hammer-
ing toward Paris. They are thinking more about post-war problems,
though publicly there is little discussion of them. The average
man, the anonymous citizen, is thinking now quite intently about
his long-neglected needs: a new pair of shoes, a new suit, repairs
for his leaking roof, a shorter working hour and some leisure,
and above all--enough to eat. HOW they all long for peace! Now
that it seems near the privations appear to be getting harder to
bear. everyone is tired, tired; and the difference is that now
people often talk about it. People in the forties, working for
three years without a rest, realize that they have aged ten or
15 years in that period. All kinds of ailments are afflicting
them--teeth falling out, arthritis, eyes going bad, a lot of
the diseases of an age older than they are, accellerated by semi-
starvation for this long period, and by overwork.
--2--
The government has taken some recognition of this near-end of
endurance in the public, and some concessions to it are being
made. Commercial stores are opened where people can buy un-
rationed goods, Older women, and old men, are getting brief
vacations. Some commercial restauwants are open. Parks are
open and there are frequent concerts. Much of Moscow manages
to spenda day Dr two in the country--where many city people keep
vegetable gardens. These are very important here, the difference
literally between life and death. For despite the increase of
crops, the opening of commercialstores, the majority of the
population still lacks enough to eat.
so-called commercial
Goods in the/stores are not sold at rationed prices but at
prices approximating those in the back market, which is a measure
of real value in terms of exchange of goods for labor. Thus,
while the rationed price of a good pair of shoes might be 100
to 400 roubles, the same pairsof shoes in the commercial stores
sell for from 2,000 to 4,000 roubles--which is $400 to $800
a pair, at official exchange rates, The stores now carry nearly
everything in the way of light consumers goods and queques form
before the entrances early in the day and cling to them all day
long. Across the street from my hotel there is a queque lead-
ing to a big department store and it sometimes reaches entirely
round the big city block. "What could people want that is so
important to them they will stand there, rain or shine, all day
long?" I asked. We went over to investigate and found that nearly
everyone in that queque was waiting to buy either shoes, raincoats,
or rubber shoes, or houshhold articles such as kitchen pans,
pots, dishes, glasses, spoons, etc.
In the Bolshoi Theater the other night I took a friend into the
restaurant and bought two glasses of tea and two eclairs. Last
years we could not. have bought that at all. Now they the tea and
eclairs cost me the equivalent of $25. Here at the hotel I have
the floor maid do my laundry. For washing a couple of shirts and
half a dozen handkerchiefs I pay her a loaf of bread, 200 grams
of bodka and some cigarettes, She prefers that payment to what
she would charge me in C ash--100 rbss., or about 20 at official
exchange rates.
MOSCOW now has more people than before the war, when the popula-
tion problem was already serious, with over four million inhabitants.
It is harder to get a room in the city than it is to get into the
Kremlin--almost literally. I know couples who have gone on living
as man and wife for years because neither could get a bed anywhere
else. Since the new divorce law makes it even more difficult to
get a divorce than to find a room, those who had been counting on
a separation as soon as they could solve the housing problem are
now resigned to looking at an unwelcome spouse across the few
inches of intervening space for the rest of their lives.
Onesees large numberxix numbers of demobilized cripplies in the
streets nowadays. Yesterday I went to one of the parks--the
Gorki Park of Culture, out by the Moscow River, where there is
a very impressive exhibition of war trophies: tanks, guns, air-
planes, transport of all kinds, and from all countries of Burope.
--3--
Yet of as I walked in and around this display of booty I
were and artificial limbs, and I realized at what price the trophies
soldiers from a nearby hospital, trying out their new saw crutches dozens
purchased. It seems there were more armless and legless
men in the park than men still whòle--and so many of the crippled
were very young, with hardly a down on their chins. These are
only the first of the harvest of Hitler's madness to show up
again in the capital. One hears people say that they are afraid
the soft-hearted folks at home will soon forget the terror loosed
by Nazism, but I don't think they will soon forget here. There
will be too maný smashed bodies in evidence everywhere, for
another them. generation, for Russians to forget what the victory cost
Certainly it is hard to find a Russian who has not sacrificed at
least one member of his immediate family in the maw of this war.
While I have been away many of my acquaintances have had new tragedy
heaped on tragedy. My teacher had lost her son, and now she has
also lost her husband; her hair has turned gray while I was gone.
The two maids who look after my room in thehotel have both lost
their husbands, and neither has heard from her son, in the army,
for more than a year. The other evening I visited Zoya Feodorova,
the movie star, and her sister. These girls have lost their father
and their only brother, and both of them have lost their husbands.
Yet their sorrow seemed to make them all the more determined to
live--just as the loss of arms and legs couldn't keep the soldiers
I saw in the Park from singing and applying themselves to learning
new tasks. Zoya and her sister were engr energetically trying
to learn nglish and at the end of a long working day they spent
two or three hours reading about "Hans and his Ice Skates" and
"Bill, the Chimney-Sweeper.'
The Russians don't mope; if they did the whole country would be
now engaged in moping. People like Zoya and her sister, millions
of middle aged women and many of them with young children, have
to resign themselves to living the rest of their lives without
husbands; very probably they won't be able to remarry. Millions
of young women, too, may have to go through life as spinsters,
The new divorce laws, intended to stabilize the family in what
is frankly recognized will be a difficult post-war period, will
make it even more difficult for women to acquire even second-hand
husbands. At the same time it won't penalize unmarried mothers,
who will receive the same benefits accorded to married ones. In
view of the rather grim outlook, therefore, there is some ten-
dency among people of imagination, and in the intelligentsia, to
want to get abroad, if not to emigrate at least to be able to see
some other part of the world where life is less sombre.
There are evidences that the government does intend to promote
broader constacts between Russians and Americans and englishmen.
Part of the appearent hesitancy on Russians part to mingle freeyy
is obviously due to their lack of preparation for mixing in
Anglo-American society. Now there is an almost feverish effort
4
to prepare younger people, and selected older people, for
meeting our world on its own cultural level. English language
study is compulsory in the middle schools and is the most
popular language now in colleges and universities. Students
in the techhnicums at least learn a technical vobaculary in
Bnglish suited to their tasks. muropean manners are now also
being taught in the middle schools, where girls learn how to
manage households properly, how to eat in accordance with the
dictates of mily Post, and all that nglish and American girls
are supposed to learn at finishing school. In the Suvorov
schools and in boys schools generally much emphasis is placed
on manners and etiquette,
The press generally has been friendly in its comments on our
war effort everywhere. There is little of the underlying sus-
picion and sarcasm which marked editorial writing last year. Of
course the Red Army still receives the major credit for the
smashing of nazism, but quite generous praise is being xada given
now to Allied armies, especially to the American forces in France,
More and more articles of a purely informative nature are appear-
ing about America and Britain; and somewhat more space is given
to reporting the war in the Pacific. One now sees, more frequently,
the crossed flags of Britain, America, Russia and China in display.
One more often hears the allies' national anthems played. The
only place I have heard the International played since my return
here was, oddly enough, at the Race Track a few Sundays ago, when
the Russian equivalent of a National Derby was held--a trotting
race between prize horses from state and collective cattle farms.
I find, in conversation with Russians, a much greater readiness
to concede the importance of American help in Russian victory than
the press and the government comment would seem to justify. Russians
see American foods on display in the stores, they see American
cars and trucks in the streets carrying Red Army men, they see
American clothing in the stores and see refugees wearing it. A
lot of these goods have never been used in Russia before and there
has never been such an extensive distribution of Axe foreign goods
of any kind among the people. So many have exaggerated ideas of
the American contribution. In this way government reluctance to
admit the value of our help, in the past, seems to be proving a
boomerang. I have had Russians tell me that they think as much
as as 80 or 90 percent of all the Red Army's supplies have come from
America!
There is a general expectation here that Russia is going to enter
the Far Bastern war, principally because the government wants to
please America! At least I have encountered a number of Russians
who have this idea. Why does the government wish to please the
U.S.A.? First, it is obligated to America for our help, secondly
it wants our help in the future and cannot get along without it.
I would not say there is much real enthusiasm for the idea of
fighting Japan--rather it is public resignation to the inevitability
of it. The public doesn't want any more war and would prefer to
stay out of the war in the Pacific. But among the army officers
and the navy officers it is another matter. There is an apprec-
iation amongst them of the advantages to be gained, and миадаукх
--5--
about nowadays they speak, often, quite openly to us correspondents
"turning on the Japs when Hitler is licked. At the
Red Army colonel, "to the day when Hitler is hanged and Red
front near Kursk one of the correspondents made a toast to a
Army men can go home to rest." The colonel corrected him, "We
Hitler is kaput!"
still have another job to do in the Far wast," he said, "after
When I was in Rumania with the Red Army I had the unique ex-
perience of translating, into nglish which was then translated
into Russian, a toast made by a visiting Chinese correspondent,
appealing for Russian aid against Japan. "When NE I was at
Stalingrad," the Chinese said, "I made my first toast to a
Red Army general, to General Chuikov, to thank him for defeating
Hitler which was also a good turn for China. Now I think events
have moved far enough to make this toast: to the day when victory
over Germany is achieved, and the day when Russia, Britain and
China and American can together finish the Pacific war. I was
a little uneasy about translating what seemed to me an undiplo-
matic toast--it would have been considered so a year ago--but
the Russian officers sprang to their feet and drank to it with
enthusiasm.
In Rumania, incidentally, I found that the war itself, and the
Red Army occupation, were automatically solving many of the
economic and political questions left by the bankruptcy of the
Antonescu regime. In effect the new regime is carrying out an
orderly change, which under other circumstances might be called
a revolution. It is confiscating the property of all Antonescu
sympathizers, who include practically all the Rumanian capitalists
except the Jews. In the case of industrial establishments the
governmentz is taking over nominal ownership, while the revived
trade unions seem to have most responsibility for management,
and in the case of landed estates the farms are parcelled out
among the tenants. This is laying the foundation for a kind of
social-democratic regime, in which the Rumanian Communist Party
plays a role, but not an exclusive role. Small business is still
in private hands and the church has not been interfered with.
I send you herewith an "occupation note" issued by the Ruman
Red Army in Rumania. This is worth one rouble, or worth five
Rumanian lei. Before the war a Rumanian lei was worth U.S. .01
I believe. The Russian occupation lei is used for the purchase
of Red Army supplies and cir culates among Rumanians-but the
black market rate is only slightly higher on these Russian lei
than on the Antonescu Rumanian lei.
In general the pattern of economic and political life likely
to develop in Rumania probably anticipates what will follow
in all the Balkan countries, Equalization of land ownership
to the tillers, and abolition of large estates; confiscation of
all large industry by the government; small trading and enter-
prise in private hands; coalition governments consisting of
representatives of peasant and worker parties, and of the in-
telligentsia, with little or no voice for former capitalists,
most of whom were in one way or another tied xx in with the
Axis set-up.
6
This pattern is pretty much what the newly organized Free
Polish Committee seems to want in Poland, too, The London
Poles, when they were here (Mikolajczyk, Grabski and nomer)
said that they did not have any radical differences with the
program of reform which was announced by the Free Polish
Committee: the redistribution of the land and establishment
of govmernment ownership of large industry, But it was evident
from their conversation that they are inclined to go much more
slowly than the Free Poles wish to go. What they really want
apparently is to defer the settlement of all questions, internal
as well as frontier, until after the war, when they think they
can mobilize both Polish opinion and Anglo-American intervention
(political and diplomatic) on their side in negotaating the
estgblishment of friendly relations with Russia.
Sir Archibaad Clark-Kerr considers that Mikolajczyk made a
big mistake when he left here without any agreement. The terms
will be much sif stiffer if and when he returns. It is my im-
pression that the main factor in the Russians' rather tolerant
attitude--in view of their urgent need for a Polish settlement
--toward the London Poles is the Kremlin's desire not to embarr-
ass the British and American governments, and particularly not
to give the opposition to Roosevelt an opportunity to exploit
the Polish issue in the coming election.
Comment in the press, and remarks in conversation with Russians
(which are not always exactly the same thing, even though such
a thing as "private" conversation hardly exists here) show quite
clearly that the Kremlin looks with alarm and disfavor on the
possibility of a Republican victory in the Novemb
er poll. Americans have been quite surprised to note how frankly
pro-Democrat most Russian comment on the candidates has been.
The Russians have not hesitated to point out the "reactionary"
character of the Republican ticket and candidates as compared
to the "progressive" Democrats. There is nat no doubt that the
average citizen here would consider it little short of a disaster
if Dewey won, that is to say the "average citizen" who follows
international politics. I am told by Russian acquaintances that
in the discussions and debates held in factories and farms, led
by Communists, the foregoing interpretation of the American elections'
is being made quite officially.
To sum up:
1) The Russian people generally are convinced that the worst
is over. There is a little loosening of belts, a little relax-
ing; there is more thinking, both in government circles and among
the people, about everyday human needs and about the tasks of
peace. There are more goods for sale--and the hope of more food.
2) Tragedy stalks every family but there is little tendency
to mope. There is a trmendous will to live in the Russians.
People who die so well for a cause seem to cling all the more
March 2. 1945
--7--
fiercely the to life, when they are spared it, I predict
Russians will turn to the tasks of peace with about that
same one energy they have applied to winning the war, More the
this Russian has said to me, "We have learned how to work than during
back war. We have mastered the machine. We will never go
to the old ways. If
Pierre a four Cot, who was in the French Cabinet before the
habilitation he methods. He told me, when he came back, that
months trip visit the recovered areas and studyin war, made g re-
dustrial of output within five years. He said their pre-war planning was
was convinced the Russians would recover their in-
reconstruction generally had been fitted into a long-view
scheme of things, SO that the actual reconstruction of all the
ruined cities might take 15 years. But with the gains of the
war, the accellerated development of industry in the west and
the accumulation of industrial experience, plus long-view
planning, "Russia will be growing and developing at a faster
rate 15 years from now than it would have been able to do had
there never benna war."
3) The public wants peace more than anything else. All Russians
are dead tired. There is little enthusiasm among the populace
for a war against Japan. But everyone expects that the govern-
ment will enter the Pacific war. The army is, to some extent,
enthusiastic about the idea of licking Japan, So is the navy.
The public is resigned to a Russo- apanese war and many think
it is part of the price Russia must pay for American aid. Russians
are very grateful for that help. They are especially grateful
for the help our American flyxers are giving them and there
is a new fix friendliness in their attitude toward Americans
especially. An American uniform now brings a quick saulte from
Russian officers--and often a smile as well.
4) The process of the war itself, the advance of the Red Army
and the flight of Hitler sympathizers, creates in Bastern surope
a situa kind of political vaccuum in which a new type of govern-
ment will emerge, not democratic in our sense, not soviet commun-
ism either, and certainly not fascist. The new regimes in all
these eastern -uropean states will probably consist largely of
representatives of peasant and worker parties, and intelligentsia,
and they will carry out a social-democratic program of land
redistribtion, government ownership of big industry, and private
enterprise in small business.
5) The Russians are laying down some fundamental plans looking
toward long-term cooperation with America. They want it and
expect it and they don't intend to carry out any policies which
will, unnecessarily, provoke anti-Soviet feelings in Americans.
6) But there is no indication that this country intends to
abandon its own system, or rewrite Marxist-Leninist-Stalism--
to employ their awkward phrase for the ruling philosophy. There
is, if anything, renewed emphasis on the study of Marxism. There
--8--
is no sign of the party grasp of affairs, in all phases of
Russian life, losing its strength. There is, on the contrary,
evidence that the party intends to reimpose its strict code
of knowledge and conduct on all its membership--particularly
in the army, where tens of thousands of new Communists have
been taken in during the war.
7) The only respect in which I notice a dramatic change that
represents a sharp departure from practice here in the past
is a noticeable spread of anti-Semetism. even a year ago one
rarely heard anti-Jewish remarks from Russians and I never heard
Jews complain of discrmmination. Now, I am sorry to say, there.
is a lot of this, not as much as in America, but still very
perceptible. Jews have complained to me that they find it very
hard to get government jobs, or jobs of any kind, I have heard
Russians make ren arks to the effect that the Jew always finds a
way to keep out of the front-line, that the Jew stays at home
and speculates while the Russian fights, that the Jew is cunning
and crafty while the hussian is pure and brave, etc. The fact
that they make such remarks to a foreigner shows how widespread
and matter-of-fact this kind of conversation must be.
People with whom I have discussed this phenemenon believe it will
be temporary; one of the commissars (Shcherbakov) has already
made a radio speech against racial animosity. Men are sometimes
arrested and fined for making anti-Jewish remarks in public, the
national law makes such behavior a criminal offensixe, Generally
the growth of anti-Semetism is attributed to; 1) effectiveness
of Hitler's propaganda among the villages of occupied Russia;
2) overemphasis on Russian nationalism, which has made Russians
more race-conscious than they have been since the revolution.
I have skipped many important subjects--but this was supposed
to be merely a letter giving "impressions." 11 If I thought a line
of it might prove of any help to you I would be richly repaid.
I would like to know, if you find time, whether you receive it.
Please let me know if I can be of any service to you whatever.
One point may interest you. I arranged with my town council,
in Madison, Connecticut, to have my ballot sent to me here in
Moscow, where I will cast my vote in the national election. After
a canvas here among the mission people and other Americans, I
find I am the only person with such plans. If the ballot arrives
I will send it in and thus probably be the first American in
history to vote for a president of the United States, from the
territory of Russia. My vote, needless to say, is going for
FDR.
With all good wishes for your continued good health and brilliant
leadership,
Very
The Honorable,
Edw sincerely yours Snow
The President of the United States
Mr. Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Washington, D.C.
file
THE WHITE house
WASHINGTON
December 21, 1944.
pps
7979
MEMORANDUM FOR GENERAL WATSON:
The President said he would
see Mr. Edgar Snow right after the first
of the year. #
G.G.T.
President indicated
could not see
12/00/44
11.
no Would Edgar Grace you Snow tells care right to after have you him the would come first like in of to the see Year. Mr.
next
week?
fire
December 21, 1944.
pps
7979
MEMORANDUM FOR GENERAL WATSON:
The President said he would
see Mr. Edgar Snow right after the first
of the year.
G.G.T.
MHILE HO
GF
HAY-ADAMS HOUSE
COMPLETELY
AIR CONDITIONED
WASHINGTON, D.C.
December 20, 1944
Dear Miss Tully:
I just arrived from Russia, by way of a lift
in General Paul Spalding's plane, and I am
going to be home for a few weeks before going
back on an assignment to southern Europe.
I know the President is extremely busy and
I'm sure he is very well informed on everything
in Russia. If by any chance he thinks it
would serve any useful purpose for me to see
him, however, this is just to say I am here
and would be delighted, I hope to go up to
Connecticut in a few days for Christmas--
probably Thursday.
What I am wondering is whether you ever received
the letter I sent to you from Moscow, and which
I foolishly addressed to Miss LeHande! I'm very
sorry about that and I never met Miss LeHande,
but the letter was already off to the President
before I. woke up to my error.
With apologies, and best wishes Sdgar from
Sincerely yours,
(of Saturday Evening Post)
Edgar Snow
March 2, 1945
MEMORANDUM FOR THE FILES:
Mr. Snow attended the President's press
pl7
and radio conference this morning. He remained
lub
afterwards and saw the President for a few minutes,
with Mr. Daniels.
7979
M. Lorenz
X36
March 1, 1945
self-explanatory. I enclose a note to the President, which is
If it can be arranged, I would like to attend
the press conference tomorrow, and afterward
have a short time with the President. Please
excuse this late request. I have only today
arrived in Washington, from California.
I will phone you tomorrow, for a reply. If
you wish to contact me, earlier, I can be
reached at ME 5656, or at DI 1967.
With thanks for your attention to this request,
Adu Sincerely Snow
Edgar Snow
#
Reperon
Rep
pl7
National Press Club
Washington
7979
March 1, 1945
Dear Mr. Daniels:
I enclose a note to the President, which is
self-explanatory.
If it can be arranged, I would like to attend
the press conference tomorrow, and afterward
have a short time with the President. Please
excuse this late request. I have only today
arrived in Washington, from California.
I will phone you tomorrow, for a reply. If
you wish to contact me, earlier, I can be
reached at ME 5656, or at DI 1967.
With thanks for your attention to this request,
Sincerely
Edgar Snow
#
Reperon feb
National Press Chich
Washington
March 1, 1945
Dear Mr. President:
I am in town for a couple of days, and would
like to attend your press conference tomorrow,
if it can be arranged.
In your note, some weeks ago, you suggested
that you might be free to see me some time after
the next Big Three meeting. I am about to turn
over copy to the Post, on some articles about
Russia and my last trip there, on subjects which
have been affected by the Yalta Conference, and
perhaps you could give me a few minutes after
your remarks to the press tomorrow, to clear
up a few points, in the way of off-the-record
background remarks.
I am sending this note to Mr. Daniels, and will
ask him, if I can attend the press conference
tomorrow, for your answer.
With all best wishes,
Sincerely yours, yours,
Edgar Snow
Ass. Editor,
The Saturday Evening Post
The President of the United States
The White House
mpk
ELY, Certrude
Bryn Hawr. Pennsylvania
April 3, 1941
Wrote to the President calling attention to enclosed article "China's Blitsbuilder,
Rewi Alley*, by Migar Snow. - Hon. Lauchlin Currie replied on April 9, 1941, thanking
Has My for the article, and affirming their natual interest in and admiration for the
work of the Chiness/Industrial Cooperatives. Says this movement will grow to accompleih
& great doal more, An peacetine as well ne during the war effort. - Attached is
President's namo of April 7. 1941, to Hon. Lauchlin Currie TO reply.
SEE - 150-A
PPF
7979
CURRIE, lion. Lauchlin
Feb. 26, 1942.
The President, by memo., referred for his information and asked that
it be returned for the President's files - Folder containing "Meno To the Pres-
ident from Edgar Snow - Subject: The Role of a Federation for Asiatie Democracy,
Here in America, in Increasing the Effectiveness of Political Warfare."
SEE 4675-Misc.
(Official File)
(Box x 23)
AS
P.P.F.
7979
URRIE, Hon. Lauchlin
Oct. 21, 1942.
E
Sends the President two memo. one in RE: INDIA - the other in RE BURMA. These reports
were sent to Mr. Currie by Edgar Snow. States he (Mr. Snow) had gotten his report on
Burma from & young Burman and that the report indicates a growing disillusionment in
Burma on which we should be able to capitalize. The President, Oct. 22nd, sent a
memo. to Mr. Currie thanking him for letting him see the following: Report from Edgar
Snow - "India At The End of September, 1942", and report from Edgar Snow - "Report on
Burma, July, 1942", from Delhi, September 15, 1942. The President said he thought the
report on India was very amateurish and that the report on Burma while very interesting
had a very high percentage of sweeping,all-inclusive statements which make one pause.
SEE 48-H (Official File)
AS
P.P.F. F.
7979
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
FROM Wayne Coy, Pureau of the Budget
January 26, 1943
Encloses letter to the President from Edgar Snow, correspondent for the
Saturday Evening Post, reminding the President that he met Mr. Snow following
a press conference some months ago and the two talked about the Far East. In
the attached letter, Mr. Snow tells of the affect of our fighting in North
Africa on the Russian people. Gives suggestions on further uniting the Russians
and Americans.
PPF
vsr
SEE - 4287
7979
HIBBS, Ben, Editor,
The Saturday Evening Post,
Phila., Pa.
5-31-44
Letter to Gen. Watson, that Edgar Snow, associate editor and foreign
correspondent of The Saturday Evening Post, tells him that the President expressed a
wish to see his article on the Chinese guerrillas. Is enclosing tear sheets of the
article, which will appear in their issue of June 10th.
(article filed.)
see 4287
Memorandum from Gen. Watson to 8 the President, submitting to him above article.
PPF
br
7979
PPF
7979
For Edgar Snow's letter of 12-28-44 enclosing his notes
on a confidential conversation with Litvinov, 10-6-44,
and FDR's reply of 1-2-45
SEE: P.S.F.: Russia.