Memorandum, Corrected Text of Letter Sent by Ambassador [Walter Bedell] Smith to Mr. Molotov

DEPARTMENT OF STATE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY WASHINGTON WD.C. Corrected Text of Letter Sent by Ambassador Smith to Mr. Molotov During the year and a half that I have resided in Soviet Union I have been obliged with the deepest regret to witness in Soviet press an increasing flood of half truths, distortions of truth and utter false- hoods about my country and my government. I have tried to overlook this incendiary press campaign, feel- ing that to take issue with a myriad false or incorrect statements would simply be adding fuel to the flame of hatred toward my country which Soviet press has appar- ently undertaken to kindle in hearts of Soviet people. "However, an occasion has now arisen when I must break this self-imposed rule. An article by one Boris Gorbatov just published in Literary Gazette No. 39 is so watonly libelous in its personal attack on the President of the US that I cannot permit it to pass without the strongest protest. It has thoroughly shock- ed me. "As I have told you personally on several occasions, I believe that I have a duty to Soviet Government as well as to my own, and that this duty is to inform the Soviet Government as honestly and frankly as possible of the beliefs and opinions of the people of my country. This being the case, I must assure you in the most solemn terms that every right-minded American citizen regard- less of his political opinions will be deeply affronted by this article and will feel that he in some way shares personal insult thus gratuitously offered to President Truman. " 'I cannot recall that Dr. Goebbels, of unsavory memory, at the height of our common struggle against Nazi Germany ever stooped to greater ridicule and vituperation against the head of an enemy country than DECLASSIFIED E.O. 12065, Sec. 3-402 has State Dept. Guideline, June 12, 1979 By NLT- He NARS, Date 11-13-10