Speech #840000833

Urging that President Roosevelt make a speech giving utterance to his views concerning the activities of the Communists inside the United States. Mr. Bullitt wrote: "I venture to suggest that henceforth the law excluding Communists from the United States should be applied rigidly and that you should instruct all American Missions to refuse visas to Soviet citizens unless they present entirely satisfactory evidence that they are not and have never been members of the Communist Party or Communist International. and are not candidates for admission to the Communist Party or Communist International and are not members of the Profintern." Instead of a speech by the President. a note was sent to the Russian Government on August 25. expressing the protest of the United States. Attention was called to the Litvinov pledge and to -its violation at the meeting of the "All World Congress of the Communist International." and the note added: "The Government of the United States would be lacking in candor if it failed to state frankly that it anticipates the most serious consequences If the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is unwilling. or unable. to take appropriate measures to prevent further acts in disregard of the solemn pledge given by it to the Government of the United States." The Russian Government answered the note on Aguust 27 by saying that It could not take upon Itself "obligations of any kind with regard to the Communist International." Secretary of State Hull on September 1. 1935. Issued the following statement to the press: "The recent note of this Government to the Government of the Soviet Union and the reply of that Government raises the Issue whether that government.