October 23, 1945
TASS Digest Distributed to Cde. I.V. Stalin and Cde. C.M. Molotov, 'Radio Broadcasts'
This document was made possible with support from Blavatnik Family Foundation
[stamp: Secret Department of TASS]
Top Secret
RADIO BROADCASTS
STOCKHOLM, Swedish, 23 October, transcript.
In connection with reports that Stalin is supposedly ill, or dead, a representative of the US State Department declared yesterday that nothing of the sort has been received from Moscow which would confirm or refute these reports. In the Russian Embassy in Washington they are also stating that they know nothing.
In the words of the Washington correspondent of the Daily Mail, in authoritative circles in Washington there is no doubt that Stalin is ill.
PARIS, French. 23 October, transcript.
WASHINGTON. Rumors are circulating that the state of health of Stalin is causing the most serious apprehension. The appearance of these rumors has been in all probability facilitated by news received more than a week ago that Stalin had left Moscow on vacation for several days. The Soviet Embassy in Washington has neither confirmed nor refuted these rumors. In some circles they think that in the event that the head of the Soviet government decides to abandon official supervision of Soviet policy it is possible that his successor will be Marshal Zhukov. Therefore the stated desire of Zhukov to visit the US before the end of this year has provoked the appearance of numerous comments.
MILAN, Italian, 23 October, transcript.
WASHINGTON. A correspondent of the Associated Press agency turned to Soviet Ambassador to the US Gromyko with a request to report whether there is any basis for the news that Stalin is supposedly seriously ill. The Soviet Ambassador limited himself to stating that he has no information which would confirm this news.
BRAZZAVILLE, French, 23 October, transcript.
WASHINGTON. No reports have been received in the US State Department from the American Embassy in Moscow about the state of health of Generalissimo Stalin.
In Washington they are expecting an official denial of a report according to which the state of health of Generalissimo Stalin is causing apprehension.
Three copies printed
1st copy – to Cde. I. V. Stalin
2nd copy – to Cde. V. M. Molotov
3rd copy – to file.
Outgoing Nº 500ss
23 October 1945 [Handwritten: PR]
M. Nº 426
zp
Rumors continue to circulate that Stalin is ill, and Soviet representatives have neither confirmed nor denied these rumors.
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