International Department memorandum to Central Committee (25 October 1976, 25-S-2025). Attached is text for Soviet ambassadors in various countries, pp. 2-3, concerning the Western “anti-Soviet” campaign about dissidents and involvement of French Communist Party (PCF) in that campaign. [R 25 October 1976, No 25-S-2025] total 3 pp.

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SECRET

2nd sector

To the CPSU Central Committee

Information from Soviet ambassadors in certain countries
concerning anti-Soviet campaigns in the West

A revival in the anti-Soviet campaign in support of “dissidents”, convicted by Soviet courts for their hostile activities, has been observed in a number of capitalist countries. Furthermore, attempts by the campaign organisers to give their protests “objectivity” by involving progressive organisations have been noted, and also to “link” actions in support of “dissidents” with statements in defence of individuals who are the victims of lawless treatment in capitalist countries.

In Paris on 21 October a rally was held in support of Bukovsky and, at the same time, of the Uruguayan communist Masser [1] and several other individuals.

Representatives of the French Communist Party took part in the rally, as a result of which the Central Committee sent a letter to the PCF leadership (decree N 030/43 of 18 October this year).

We consider it would be expedient to send guidance on these issues to Soviet ambassadors in those capitalist countries where such attempts may be made (Italy, Great Britain, USA, Japan, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden and Norway).

The text of this telegram to Soviet ambassadors is attached. We request authorisation

Deputy head of the International Department

[signature]

(V. Zagladin)

25 October 1976
No 25-S-2025

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ROME, LISBON, LONDON, BRUSSELS, WASHINGTON, BERN

BONN, STOCKHOLM, TOKYO, OSLO

MADRID
(Trade mission, for Comrade Bogomolov,
encrypted Ministry Foreign Affairs)

Secret Addendum

To Soviet Ambassador

Recently the organisers of anti-Soviet campaigns in “defence of dissidents” in certain countries have made attempts to involve progressive organisations in their protests so as to give them “objectivity” and for these purposes give the appearance of simultaneously calling for the freedom of the victims of reaction in other countries. A rally of this kind was held, in particular, on 21 October this year in Paris. [1]

To begin with the French Communist Party [PCF] gave a correct assessment of this ploy. However, later, under the pressure of anti-Soviet circles the Central Committee Secretariat of the PCF published a letter from which it followed that a PCF delegation would take part in the rally, the true meaning of which had not long before been exposed in the PFC press.

For your information and guidance we write to inform you that on 18 October this year the CPSU Central Committee sent a confidential letter to the PCF leadership which presented our assessment of this anti-Soviet ploy and stated that we reserved the right to take measures that

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we consider expedient and in order to expose to the eyes of French and world public opinion the provocative meaning of what the anti-Soviet crowd had organised.

In view of the fact that representatives of the PCF still took part in the said rally, on 22 October TASS distributed a commentary in foreign countries that has given a principled assessment of the gathering held by the anti-Sovietists and the fact that PCF representatives took part.

The Communist Party of Uruguay has issued a protest against attempts to use the movement of solidarity with the Uruguayan victims of fascist tyranny for anti-Soviet purposes (the text of the statement by the Central Committee of the Uruguay Communist Party has also been sent to your countries via TASS channels).

If necessary you should use the said materials in political-educational work with communists and representatives of other democratic forces.

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NOTES

[1]  The French rally is mentioned in CCE 43.1 (31 December 1976).

General

1. Notes and additions by translator and editor are bracketed, thus [ ];
2. Text added by hand is indicated in italic script;
3. when a handwritten phrase, figure or word has been added
to a previously typed document it is indicated by underlined italic script.

Translation, John Crowfoot