740.00116 European War 1939/1214: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 28—12:55 p.m.]
2337. Reference your 1447, December 23.82 I think you should bear in mind that the Soviet officials are using the Kharkov trials in external propaganda as a means of separating the front line troops from the troops in the rear. You will note that the three Germans selected had seen no service at the front and much is made of this in the Soviet leaflets dropped on German troops at the Russian front.
It would be helpful to know why the War Department does not believe that a campaign of publicity based on the Kharkov trials is desirable at this time.
What additional information do you wish from Moscow on this subject?
Repeated to London.