Mission to Moscow Page #11

are being closed forever.

When you return

to america, mr. Davies,

please tell them

what you have seen.

The pleasure

of having you here tonight

is marred only by the fact

that this is a farewell dinner.

You, mr. Ambassador,

have done what no other

foreign diplomat

has been known to do

in this country.

You have done your best

to understand our country.

What is going on here,

the motives behind our doings,

and the aims in front of them.

If you will,

as i'm sure you will,

pass on the results of your

observation and unbiased judgment

to your government

and to your country,

you will contribute more to the friendly

relations between our two countries

than any other diplomat

in the history

of the soviet union.

I am deeply moved by your very

generous remarks, mr. Litvinov.

You have commented on the

sympathy and understanding

which exists between

your country and mine.

I believe that is

preeminently true.

It is my belief that

both peoples are seeking

to improve the lot

of the common man.

That is the end to

which we are striving.

Our methods

are different.

We believe

that ours are the best,

but we concede

that you have the right

to maintain that yours

are the best.

Whether or not

your government

succeeds in its

ultimate aims,

the ideas and the human

forces that you have released

will have

a profound effect

upon the future

of the world.

I came here

with an objective mind.

I'm leaving with

an objective mind,

possibly less objective

and more friendly

because of the kindnesses

that you and your government

have extended to me as a

representative of my country.

In conclusion, i would

like to say to everyone here

that i am going

to miss you very much.

And i hope to see you

many times again

wherever our paths

may cross.

I'm sure that my

american staff

will want to join me in raising

our glasses to you, mr. Litvinov,

to your associates,

and to the traditional

friendship

of the peoples

of our two countries.

Mr. Litvinov.

Now, i suggest

a final game of poker,

so we can win back some

of our money from the boss

before he leaves us.

I second the motion.

I don't have a

chance with you sharks.

Gentlemen, i'm sorry

to interrupt you,

but i have some bad news.

I have just received a telephone

message from the czech minister.

Hitler has invaded austria,

and german troops

are already in vienna.

Looks like

the beginning.

It had to come.

On your first

visit here, mr. Davies,

i felt i was welcoming a

capable and honest ambassador.

But now, more than that,

i feel i'm saying

good-bye to a friend.

Thank you, mr. President.

I feel exactly the same way.

I'm only sorry that you're

not staying with us longer.

You see, i've done what my

president asked me to do.

My end of the job is finished.

No one could have been

more conscientious

in respect

to both our countries.

Thank you, sir.

Oh, mr. Stalin.

Mr. Davies,

i'm happy to know you.

It's great pleasure, sir.

Also considerable

of a surprise.

Won't you please

sit down?

Besides your work

here in moscow,

i understand

you have visited

many other sections

of the soviet union.

I've been greatly impressed

by what i've seen.

Your industrial plants,

the development

of natural resources,

and the work being done

to improve living conditions

everywhere in russia.

I believe, sir, that

history will record you

as a great builder

for the benefit of mankind.

It is not my achievement,

mr. Davies.

Our 5-year plans

were conceived by lenin

and carried out

by the people themselves.

The results have been

a revelation to me.

I confess i wasn't prepared

for what i found here.

You see, mr. Stalin,

i'm a capitalist,

as you probably know.

Yes, we know

you're a capitalist.

There can be

no doubt about that.

We also know this,

mr. Davies.

The worst things you've

had to say about us,

you've said

to our faces.

The best things you've

said to our enemies.

We want you to realize

that we feel more friendly

toward the government

of the united states

than any other nation.

If there are some matters

which are not settled

between us,

please take them up

with premier molotov.

Thank you.

But i know

how busy you are.

I mustn't take up

any more of your time.

Mr. Davies, you have

another appointment?

No.

Then please

do not hurry away.

There are some matters

on my mind

i would like you

to know.

And your great

president to know.

Sir.

Mr. Davies.

Mr. Davies, please.

The outlook for a european

peace is bad, very bad.

England and france

have allowed hitler

to take austria

without a struggle.

They will probably allow him to

do the same with czechoslovakia.

They've repudiated all

their pledges to the league

and are throwing

defenseless countries

on the mercies of bandits.

It's clear what they're

doing, but i don't understand

why they're doing it.

I will tell you why,

mr. Davies,

and i will tell you frankly,

because this is the time

for plain words.

The reactionary elements

in england

have determined

upon a deliberate policy

of making germany strong.

At the same time,

they shout lies in the press

about the weakness

of the russian army

and disorder

in the soviet union.

You mean these elements are actually

encouraging german aggression?

There is no doubt that

their plan is to force hitler

into a war with this country.

Then, when the combatants

have exhausted themselves,

the will step in and make peace.

Yes, the kind of peace

that will serve

their own interests.

But i'm sure

the english people

don't approve

of such a policy.

In my opinion,

the present governments

of england and france

do not represent the people.

Finally, the fascist dictators

will drive too hard a bargain,

and the people will bring

their governments to account.

But then it may be too late.

Mr. Stalin, may i ask you

a very direct question?

Of course.

If hitler does attack

czechoslovakia

and france and england

go to her aid,

is russia ready and willing

to join them in war

against germany?

We have a commitment

with france to fight

in the event they go

to the aid of czechoslovakia.

The soviet union has never

repudiated a treaty obligation.

She would not repudiate

this one.

Your past record

speaks well for the future.

But we're not going

to be put in the position

of pulling other people's

chestnuts out of the fire.

Either we must rely

on our mutual guarantees

with the other democracies, or-

well, we may be forced to

protect ourselves in another way.

On my way home

i'm stopping off in england.

May i quote

what you have just told me?

If you could convince them

and your own government

that peace or war

is in the balance,

you would do us all

a great service.

I feel as keenly as you

and mr. Litvinov

that collective security is

the last bulwark against war.

Litvinov has done all he can

to make the world realize it.

A very great

foreign minister.

I appreciate

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