740.00119 European War 1939/57: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State

711. The Izvestia this morning in a leading editorial entitled “Peace or War?” comes out strongly in support of the German peace offer contained in Hitler’s speech. After emphasizing the complete collapse [Page 510] in Poland and the intention of the Soviet and German Governments to guarantee peace and order within the territory of former Poland, the editorial states that in view of these facts since the French and British are waging war against Germany for the restoration of Poland the continuation of the war can in no way be justified. The editorial then reviews favorably the peace offer contained in Hitler’s speech to the Reichstag on October 6 and states that the proposals of Hitler may be accepted, refused, or both, but “it is impossible not to recognize that in any case they may serve as a real and practical base for negotiations for the conclusion of peace. [”] However, the editorial continues, despite the statements of the French and British Governments concerning their desire for peace, the reaction of the French and British press to these proposals, which presumably reflect the view of their Governments, would appear to indicate that they will be refused without consideration since according to these newspapers the purpose of the war is now the destruction of Hitlerism. The editorial then asserts that every man has the right to express his own opinion in regard to any ideology, may respect or hate Hitlerism but that to destroy human beings for such reason would be “senseless and stupid cruelty” and would return us to the Middle Ages and the destructive religious wars of that time. The editorial then attacks “the ruling classes” of England and France which it states have never been noted for their willingness to shed blood or incur expenses to achieve an idealistic aim and that in the present case the slogans concerning the necessity of destroying the Hitler spirit are merely used to conceal more practical aims towards the maintenance of their world hegemony. Bernard Shaw in an article said to have appeared in the New Statesman and Nation is then quoted to the effect that England is merely fighting to weaken Germany, that “chatter concerning liberty, democracy, et cetera, is mere deception”, and that peace should be concluded. The editorial asserts that, “It must be admitted that Bernard Shaw is in many respects right. [”] The editorial continues with the statement that the English and French ruling circles “are very little concerned over the fate of Poland or the freeing of the German people from the Hitler regime and are continuing the war for the preservation of their colonial possessions and the right to uncontrolled exploitation of hundreds of millions of colonial slaves”. After stating that “attempts to ignore the peace proposals of Germany means the assumption of responsibility for the colossal sacrifices and destruction of the war,[”] the editorial concludes that the question of war or peace is now posed and that those who stand for a war to victorious conclusion are for war against peace which in any case is not in the interest of the working classes since “the working class can only suffer in such a war”.

Steinhardt