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LETTER FROM THE AMBASSADOR OF THE USSR IN LEBANON D.S. MALT TO THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE MIDDLE EAST COUNTRIES OF THE USSR MFA I.I. BAKULINA

June 28, 1949

Secret

At the same time, I am sending you the materials and newspaper reports we have about the arrival at the end of May in the Near and Middle East of the British Permanent Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs Sir William Strang and the US Department of State Eastern Affairs Adviser Samuel Cooper.

As can be seen from the attached materials, the trip of Strang and Cooper quite clearly reflects all the growing Anglo-American contradictions in the Near and Middle East, caused by the desire of each of these imperialist powers to strengthen their positions and influence in these countries to the detriment of each other.

A common reason for Strang's trip is the failure of British events in the countries of the Near and Middle East, and especially in the Arab countries, as well as the systematic and increasing displacement of the British by American expansion into these countries.

The immediate reason for Strang's trip to the Arab countries is the sharp rupture of Syria by Husni Zaim with the Hashemites and her transition to the anti-Hashemite camp1. Therefore, the British made a last attempt to weaken the very adverse consequences of this transition, as well as to prepare more thoroughly for the upcoming meeting of British diplomatic representatives in the Near and Middle East at the end of July.

In addition, it seemed to the British that Israel's admission to the United Nations at the second part of the third session of the UN General Assembly is a very convenient pretext for involving the Arab countries in the system of concluding bilateral agreements on alliance and joint defense with Great Britain.

The purpose of Cooper's surprise visit to the countries of the Middle East is the desire of Americans to prevent a possible threat to American interests in these countries, which could be created by Strang's presence in these countries, as well as an attempt to negotiate with Arab countries on a solution to the problem of Palestinian refugees outside the United Nations. and to obtain the consent of the governments of the states of the Middle and Near East to agree to the extension of the Marshall Plan to these countries either directly or through Truman's proposed "aid" to the backward regions.

Based on the preliminary data we have, both of these missions did not produce the expected results, as, among other things, Cooper contributed significantly to the failure of the Strang mission. He himself could not achieve much, as the current Arab leaders are afraid to make far-reaching commitments to the United States in view of the existing general precarious situation in the Middle East, as well as in view of the manifestation of clear signs of an impending global economic crisis.

Appendix to the text on  pages 26.

Messenger D Malt

WUA RF. F. 0106. Op. 8.P. 10.D. 1.L. 31-32.