of political and personal liberties. They deplored the 'anti-red' virus, opposed allying Britain with 'American imperialism' and foresaw the United Nations as the principal future instrument of international security. By the middle of 1947 the risk of a split in the Labour Party and its implications for foreign policy were being seriously discussed. 2 The need to keep the left wing of the Party on side became a factor in the conduct of government policy towards the Soviet Union. Combined with inhibitions over possible allegations of int rÂŁ r nc in the internal affairs of other countries, this was to contribute to th shift in inÂŁ rmation tactics towards the cloak of secrecy. Nevertheless, by the end of 194 7 the need to take defensiv action against Soviet propaganda was accepted at the highest level. A decision had to be taken to expos
ommunism and to
offer something better. The earlier plans and programmes drawn up within th For i n Office were now brought into play.
Early Initiatives In the course of a briefin g m
tina on 18 March 1946 with th Amba ad r d i
Moscow, Sir Maurice Peterson th Permanent Und r suggested a paper on how t
cr tary f tat
1r
to ar
nt
unter oviet propaganda. A m
Christopher Warner, Assistant Und r S cretary of tat d alin with 'The Soviet campaign again t thi Warner argued in favour
ountry and
ur r
fa d fensive-offensiv ',
xp 1ng
mmuni m
totalitarianism and providing n1oral and material upport t th
fightin it
short of a direct attack on th p lici
of the Sovi t Gov rnm nt.
These proposals were ndor d by th Foreign Offic
ommitt
Committee), established in April 1946 t study Sovi t activiti action, and a working party wa
n Ru ¡an P li y and
rdinat
aunt r-
t up under Sir I von Kirkpatri k. With th appr v 1 f th
Prime Minister, an action programme was prepared involving a Ion -t rm propaganda campaign against Communism with the assistanc of th Minist rial and
Publicity
Committee, British Missions oversea the Central Offic of Inform ti n (
) and th BB .
The tone was uncompromising: 2 N 9549, FO 371/66371 . 3
Sargent-Peterson interview, N 5572/605/38G FO 371 56832; Warn r m m . 56786. The memorandum is printed in Documents on British Policy Over: eas
2
/ 38 . 88.
371 /