The Three Who Led

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CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF THE U.S.S.R. AND THE PRESIDENTS OF THE U.S.A. AND THE PRIME MINISTERS OF GREAT BRITAIN DURING THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR OF 1941-1945. Moscow: Foreign Languages Publishing House, 1957, 2 v. in English. (American source for purchases, Chicago Council of American-Soviet Friendship, Inc.)

NOTE the title of these volumes! Throughout the Western world the recent struggle is known as the "Second World War." But in the Soviet glossary it is called "The Great Patriotic War."

This project of publication was first conceived, I am informed, while Stalin, sender and recipient of these missives, still held sway over the Soviet Union. It was suspended during the period when Khrushchev was repudiating the course and conduct of his predecessor. But when Khrushchev recanted, or found it prudent again to show respect for the memory of Stalin, the decision was made to release this full record of his correspondence with the Presidents of the United States and the Prime Ministers of Great Britain.

In the foreword a reason for doing so is avowed. "Tendentiously selected parts of this correspondence were published outside the Soviet Union at different times resulting in a distorted picture of the Soviet attitude during the war years. This publication is to help restore historical truth." The sponsors of this publication do not explain or particularize their accusation. And the contents do not contain evidence which justifies it. We may rejoice that the Soviet authorities, who have without any scruple rewritten and fabricated history whenever it suited them, have now developed a devotion to "historic truth." But still we may regret that it was left to the Soviet Government to appear to espouse that worthy cause by being the first to present in systematic form the complete collection of the written communications between the three leaders of the great war coalition...