811.42700 (R)/2–1547: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Smith) to the Secretary of State
423. Embassy Information Officer February 15th issued to Soviet press and American correspondents following for immediate release:1
“American Ambassador takes pleasure in announcing that beginning February 17, American Government’s radio program Voice of America will include daily broadcasts in Russian language beamed to [Page 532] USSR. These broadcasts will consist of music, news about America and world affairs and special features. They will be transmitted from 9 to 10 p.m. Moscow time on two frequencies 6170 kilocycles (48.6 meters) and 9540 kilocycles (31.5 meters).
Ambassador believes that these broadcasts, which are in line with desire frequently expressed by representatives of governments of both countries for wider exchange of information of a cultural and scientific character will help to broaden base of understanding and friendship between peoples of Soviet Union and United States.”
Department will be informed whether or not Soviet papers carry this announcement.2
- The Department of State had announced on February 1 that these broadcasts were to begin on the 17th. (For text, see Department of State Bulletin, February 9, 1947, p. 252.) This was followed by another announcement that the program had begun on that date. (Ibid., March 2, 1947, pp. 395–396.) The complete text of the English translation of the broadcast was contained in the Department’s Press Release No. 125 of February 15, and the English translation of the news commentary included in the first program was given in Press Release No. 130 of February 17, 1947.↩
- Ambassador Walter Bedell Smith reported in telegram 439 from Moscow on February 18, that the statement which he had released to the Soviet press had so far been ignored by the Moscow papers, and no mention of the broadcasts had yet been made. (811.42700 (R)/2–1847)↩