Average Russian Questions Friendship Towards U.S.

Chronicle (Levin), 1 April 1949, Page 5

Average Russian Questions Friendship Towards U.S.

Received Thursday, 7.20 p.m. WASHtNGTON, March 30. IiieutenantrGeheral Walter Bfidell Smith who resigned last week as UnitRd States Ambassador to RltsSia j believes the average Russian has an f a.,iiuae oi "quescioning friendship" toward. the United States. j His views were disclosed todav by i the United States Advisory Commis- ! sion on Information in a repM'u *o ! Congress on the State Deparfcment's i foreign information programnie. j The Commission quoted General I Smith as ssaying fchat the enormous I reservoir of good feeling Wliich existed in Russia toward the United ! States at the end of the war was not by any means exhausted. ' ' The average Russian's feeling is still one of friendship, out ques'cioziing .r eudship toward the United States," General Sinith said. "They ate told constantly that the United States is determined on the destruction of their country, and is using all sorts of violent subversive nlethods against the Soviet. ' ' j The Commission praised the For- ; eign Information Service for doing its job, particulatly behind the Iron J Curtain. It said "Voice of America" was reaching millions of Rnssians. The report said, however, Ihat the entire prdgramme needed immedia+e broad expansion to counter powerful Russian propaganda.