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Both Chairman Bogdanov and Director Skvirsky denounced the letters as "absolute forgeries." The New York World had fun hunting up Russian linguistic experts and reporting on their say-so that the phrase "pervo-may-skich-vystoopleni," which Mr. Whalen's translator said meant "May Day outbreaks," might better be rendered "First of May parades."
Seasoned observers noted that whenever letters purporting to incriminate the Soviet Government turn up: 1) They are always awkwardly phrased and always mention comrades by either first or last name but never both; 2) If they incriminate only Russians, there is a hullabaloo which dies down indecisively without any adequate investigation; 3) If high officials in the country where the letters appear seem to be involved, thorough investigation results in the conclusion that they are forgeries. (Cases in point: 1) The Zinoviev letter, now generally considered a forgery; 2) The letters purporting to show that Senators Borah and Norris had taken $100,000 each from the Reds, which were definitely proven forgeries by investigations pursued across the Atlantic and through numerous German courts.)
In Washington, correspondents listening at the Congressional keyhole thought they heard that Commissioner Whalen's letters will bring to the point of action the long-mooted Congressional investigation of U. S. machinations by the Reds. The House Immigration Committee last week was already studying photostatic copies of certain of the letters. Whether or not the letters are genuine, whether or not the Soviet Government is directly implicated, there is no question that the Third (Communist) Internationale, a world propaganda organization with headquarters in Moscow, is dedicated to the principle of the "World Revolution of the World Proletariat" and is in sympathetic touch with Communist organizations in the U. S., whether or not it sends them orders or money.
The Central Committee of the American Communist Party issued a statement last week unlikely to help their cause:
"These forgeries fit into the anti-Soviet campaign of the countless varieties of 'God's business agents on earth,' who parade in the robes of popes, bishops, rabbis and ministers.
"These forgeries are part of the anti-Soviet campaign with which International Capitalist Reaction prepares its contemplated war against the Soviet Union."
One of the hardest things a U. S. citizen can attempt in Russia is to convince the Soviet citizens he meets that Uncle Sam is not busy sharpening a bayonet which he means some day to plunge into the Russian Bear. Millions of Russians believe today in "the inevitability of the international class war": Communism v. Capitalism. Example: When the Naval Conference met in London, leading Moscow papers printed an "exposé" in which the "real purpose" of Messrs. Hoover and MacDonald in calling the Conference was alleged to be the hatching of a plot for concerted action by the Capitalist Powers against Communist Russia.