RECENT KHRUSHCHEV SPEECHES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01731R001100160027-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 18, 2003
• Sequence Number: 27
• Publication Date: January 23, 1956
• Content Type: MF

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23 January 1956
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
VIA: Deputy Director (), }Y
SUBJECT: Recent Khrushchev Speeches
STAT
1. Attached hereto are quotations from the following:
( ?Khrushchevls impromptu speech at the Kremlin 25X1
dinner for the East German Delegation on 17 September 1955.
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STAT
2. 1 recall that some weeks ago you expressed particular
interest in that portion of the 17 September speech which contained
the proverb about the "shrimp learning to whistle. " At that time no
authentic version of these remarks was available. Both of the attached
papers contain a number of other interesting quotations and are, I
believe, the most complete and accurate version s available to us of
25X1
STA
STA
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?Khrushchev's Speech at Dinner for
East German Delegation
Underlining that the Communists do not seek to convert by
force, Khrushchev said, "Go your way, then, since you don't see
that it is the route of the blind. We will continue to follow
the path of Marx-Engels-Lenin, which is as clear as a sunny day.
"Victory is for Socialism. We do not need to make war to
achieve it. Peaceful rivalry will suffice. We will see who is
right. If you think that your regime is not too old and anti-
quated, if you think that it is capable of taking the lead, then
go ahead and compete.
"But truth is on the side of the people. We do not depend
upon your love or on your hate. We will follow our own path."
Bringing up the negotiations with Adenauer, he said, "We
negotiated honestly, and firmly. But our word is also firm.
Written or not, our word is law.
"But for whom is the future? Is it Adenauer who is on the
road to the future? We advised him openly that the way he has
chosen leads to the tomb of Capitalism. But the way chosen by
the DDR is that which leads into the future.
"Can anyone wonder why the Bolsheviks are so sincere and
unveil all their secrets? Perhaps they are imprudent, or, in
any case, not diplomats. However, we are very 'diplomatic'
because our diplomacy is that of the people. It's all to the
good for the people to know more and more about our line of
conduct.
"Gentlemen of the bourgeois press: When you insult us you
set us in the path of glory," Khrushchev said, to applause,
recalling the words of Gogol (?) that when a Capitalist praises
you, ask yourself immediately what stupid thing you have done.
"Probably we have made no blunder because the bourgeois press
does not prais'us."
Returning to Adenauer: "We are happy with the results of
the conferences. But we told Adenauer honestly: 'Your star is
growing pale. It is the star of Capitalism. The star of Socialism
has only just broken through, but it will soon burn with a thou-
sand fires."'
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 Khrushchev asked for the floor immediately after the Chairman
of the Council of Ministers. Calling Bulganin "my friend and
comrade", Khrushchev said that he shared his opinion completely.
"But he is Chairman of the Council of Ministers, an official
personage, and I, I am Secretary of the Central Committee and
therefore a 'private' man in the State."
Bulganin intervened: "That's our first divergence".
Khrushchev continued: "The newsmen will certainly not fail
to talk about that.
"In the West they often say in speaking about the Soviet
leaders that something has changed since the Geneva Conference;
that the Soviet leaders are beginning to smile but don't really
change their line of conduct very much. I am going to cause some
to rejoice and sadden others, for the situation is such in the
world of today that one cannot please everyone. Some say that
Capitalism and the system of private property is the best regime;
others foresee the era of Socialism which will become that of
Communism. I repeat that no orator can please everyone.
"And I should say that the Geneva Conference was a great
piece of work. We have a great deal of respect for Messrs.
Eisenhower, Eden, Faure (Bulganin gestures with his finger), but
we do not honor less our true friends. And my great friend Bulganin.
"They say that the Soviet delegates smile. This smile is a
true smile. It is not artificial. We wish to live in peace,
quietly, but if someone thinks that our smiles involve the abandon-
ment of the teaching of Marx-Engels-Lenin, they are making a grave
mistake. Those who expect it might just as well wait for a shrimp
to learn to whistle (Russian proverb).
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ONE H
UITIAL
"We are honest men and we tell the truth to both friends and
"We are in favor of coexistence. We are also in favor of
building Communism. We are in favor of coexistence only because
two systems exist: Capitalism and Socialism. . .
"In a number of countries, leaders who are not Communists
proclaim that they want to build Socialism. This proves that
Socialism is becoming the dream of all the peoples. Let us drink
N F o AL
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to that which is new, to the men who follow this path, showed by
Marx-Engels-Lenin-Stalin," said Khrushchev, associating the name
of Stalin with the other great Marxists for the first time in his
speech. "Our enemies may not respect Lenin-Marx-Engels-Stalin but
they cannot overthrow history. History does not bend itself to
the will of the historian; it follows its own way."
Recalling that such is the path followed by the DDR, Khrushchev
said, "It is a true and tested way. It matters little that the DDR
is not recognized by a number of bourgeois countries. Comrades
Grotewohl and Ulbricht, don't be discouraged. America did not
recognize us for 16 years but we managed to stay in existence all
the same", said Khrushchev, enumerating the popular democracies,
North Korea, and "also a country, I don't know if you know it,
China.
"The time will come when they will come knocking at your door
in order to recognize you and then it will be for you to decide
whether or not it's worth the trouble. Without being recognized
by those who do not wish to recognize you, you may still exist
very well indeed.
"I drink to those remarkable people, the Germans, with whom
we have twice been at war. I drink to the Germans, the best Germans,
who understand that it is better not to bear arms but to live in
friendship. I propose a toast to those who follow the teaching of
Marx-Engels-Lenin."
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