DAILY SUMMARY - 1946/11/21

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Daily Summary Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02931564
• Document Creation Date: September 11, 2018

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GENERAL
21 NOV 1946
235
1. Elliott Roosevelt's views on the USSR and US--Ambassador Smith reports
that Elliott Roosevelt, in the presence of the Soviet guest of honor, made
the following observations to US journalists at a reception given in Mos-
cow by an Embassy CRC staff member: (a) foreign correspondents have
as much liberty in the USSR as they do in the US where Soviet cultural
representatives are subjected to "humiliating" treatment; (b) the Danu-
bian question is no affair of the US, which did not go to war to restore the
International regime; (c) it is proper for the USSR to insist on a joint
regime with Turkey for the Dardenelles in which the USSR would "natural-
ly play a leading role"; (d) the US and UK should insist on international-
ization of the Dardenelles only if they were willing to permit the same for
the Panama and Suez Canals; (e) the USSR would not be interested in
building up Communism in states along its borders if the US and UK were
not pursuing their "present expansionist policies"; (i) the US
and UK have often broken their word as given at Tehran, Yalta and Pots-
dam, but the "Soviets have never broken theirs"; (g) the UN is being
used by the US merely to further its own "selfish ambitions"; (h) Soviet
officials admit that some things are wrong with "Soviet as well as US
foreign policy" and hope that the two countries will compromise their
views.
2. Dutch reaction to arreement with Indonesia�Reports from US Ambassa-
dor The Hague indicate that Netherlands Government officials expect the
Dutch-Indonesian agreement recently initialed at Batavia to receive Cabi-
net approval and Parliamentary acceptance after delays occasioned by
clarification of certain points and protracted Parliamentary debate. The
vote of the Catholic Party, which is reportedly divided on the Govern-
ment's Indonesian policy, is considered crucial; but in view of the antici-
pated serious consequences of rejection, it is expected to be favorable
EUROPE
3. FRANCE: Communist tactics�US Embassy Paris feels that the Commu-
nists, while contributing to the "decomposition" of the existing regime,
are "simultaneously and paradoxically" convincing an increasing number
of Frenchmen that the Communist Party is the "sole force" capable of
restoring "order, authority, and prosperity." The Embassy interprets
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the recent "diabolically clever" interviews given the US and UK press
by Thorez as an admission that the Communists still consider it expedi-
ent to exploit the liberties enjoyed in a "bourgeois democracy" in their
attempt to install "gradually and legally" a "Soviet" dictatorship in
France. The Embassy adds that no force in France appears capable of
arresting the advance of this "Soviet Trojan Horse."
4, AUSTRIA: Soviet-inspired rumor causes a
x1.2q.--Erhardt reports that
anxiety "even in top Government circlesn ti was caused by a recent article
In a pro-Soviet Viennese newspaper alleging that the US intends to "aban-
don its present policy in Eastern Europe" as a result of secret Soviet-
US negotiations over spheres of influence. Erhardt adds that President
Renner and Chancellor Figl now accept the view that the article was
�'possibly designed" to sow suspicion of US intentions.
Formation of new Danube shipping company considered--The War
Department has requested General Clark to discuss with Austrian author-
ities the advisability of forming a new Danube shipping company (in addi-
tion to the Soviet-seized company located in Vienna) as a means of pre-
venting eventual Soviet seizure of such Danube vessels as the US may
return to Austria in accordance with "restitution" negotiations.
5 SPAIN: Objections to immediate "Rolkisg_evolution"--The Foreign
Minister, replying to US Charge Bonsal's reiteration of US policy toward
Spain, explained that no "political evolution" will be possible at present
because (a) recent bombings in Madrid indicate that subversive elements
must be closely controlled; (b) "unfriendly activities" based on France
are likely to increase as a result of the French elections, and (c) the
Franco Government is worried by evidence, even in the UK and the US,
of Communist penetration.
Leftist opposition to agreement with monarchists looms--Embassy
Madrid has learned that the chief leftist negotiator of the recent agree-
ment with the Monarchists is considered by "certain leftist elements" to
have exceeded his authority (see Daily Summary of 8 November, item 7).
Active negotiations between Monarchists and Republicans, however, are
reported to be continuing.
6, RUMANIA: Preliminarp:eport on elections�US Representative Berry
characterizes Rumania s election as a "travesty," and reports that
armed Communists "for all practical purposes took over' Bucharest
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on election day. Berry was "astonished" that, in view of the tight pre-
electoral preparations, the Government thought it necessary to make
such a show of force.
NEAR EAST-AFRICA
7. INDIA: jinnah favors postponing Assembly--US Embassy New Delhi
has been informed by the Viceroy's private secretary that jinnah has
said that Moslem League representatives will not attend the Consti-
tuent Assembly if it is held on 9 December as scheduled. pariah urges
postponement because of prevailing communal tension. Nehru appears
determined to hold the Assembly on schedule, although immediate ad-
journment is expected.
THE AMERICAS
8. ECUADOR: Annavors leasing Galapagos to US--US Military Attache
Quito reports that Ecuadorian Army circles favor a 99-year US lease on
Galapagos, in view of reported Soviet interest in fishing rights in Gala-
pagos waters and the "continual threat of invasion from Peru."
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