This past year, Jerrold L. and you can Leona P. Schecter shown conclusions using their recently authored publication: Sacred Treasures: How Soviet Cleverness Procedures Changed American Records, from the a cool Conflict Around the world Record Investment (CWIHP) seminarments on demonstration was indeed provided with Kai Bird (author of a forthcoming bio regarding Oppenheimer and you can former Wilson Heart Fellow), Roentgen. Bruce Craig (National Coalition to possess Record), Ronald Radosh (co-publisher out-of Spain Deceived: The fresh new Soviet Union in the Spanish Municipal Battle) and you will Hayden Peake (Mutual Military-intelligence College)
The writer of letter to Stalin are revealed merely inside the 1994 by the Lieutenant-general Pavel Sudoplatov inside the memoir Unique Employment (pp
Much of the brand new dialogue into the conference concerned about a previously not familiar Russian document received from the Schecters, and that raised the matter as to if or not Robert Oppenheimer, one of the main researchers of your Manhattan Opportunity one to create the new atomic bomb, is an effective Soviet spy.
The fresh file involved was a page by Merkulov so you can Lavrenti Beria, your head of the Soviet nuclear project, dos October 1944 (simply click to read the document).
The latest Merkulov letter to Beria enhances the case of whether Robert Oppenheimer is actually a beneficial spy on Soviet Connection when you look at the wartime several months as he brought the new Manhattan opportunity. New page should be read in the framework of Soviet intelligence functions in america throughout World war ii. Robert Oppenheimer’s number of years registration regarding the Communist People of your own United states was developed secret in 1942 just like the he was are utilized once the a good Soviet intelligence asset by Communist Below ground in order to let see atomic treasures. Oppenheimer had been run-through brand new American Communist People together with Comintern, the newest Communist All over the world until 1944. Soviet intelligence felt like you to such as for example surgery was basically also high-risk due to enhanced FBI security off Communist Class operatives. At that time you to Stalin acceded to help you President Roosevelt’s request and dissolved the new Comintern inside the 1943, Soviet cleverness had to reorganize its espionage avenues regarding the Joined Says. This new page contact you to state, among others.
Below i expose about three analytical commentaries towards Merkulov letter:
New page try expected by Gregg Herken,whowrote from inside the Brotherhood of one’s Bomb “it is sometimes complicated understand whether so it cable is evidence of Oppenheimer’s complicity or shows the fresh (understandable) notice out of Kheifetz or any other NKVD operatives to curry prefer that have its company.” (p.93) Gregory Kheifetz is operating around coverage because Soviet vice consul San Francisco out-of late 1941 with the summer from 1944. Herken argued from inside the an upgrade for the H-Diplo: ” We think Kheifetz, who was simply recalled to Moscow in the middle-1944, out of ‘padding their resume’ of the stating that he got hired Oppenheimer. Kheifetz’s motive try simple: he was looking to end execution to own failure to do while he was the new NKVD’s main spy in the San francisco bay area.”
Herken are mistaken. Kheifetz was not appreciated to have failing woefully to perform neither to have laziness. Nor try he sent to the gulag. He had been remembered due to the fact he had been entitled for the a secret letter in order to Stalin by the an NKVD administrator regarding the Arizona, DC rezidentura. He had been implicated to be section of a band contributed from the the fresh rezident Vasili Zarubin, supposedly helping the fresh new Germans plus the Japanese. Stalin bought them remembered to help you Moscow to analyze the fresh new charges, that have been disregarded. The new manager, Lieutenant Colonel Vasili Dimitrovich Mironov, plus delivered an enthusiastic unsigned letter so you’re able to J. Edgar Vacuum cleaner, presenting the newest intelligence affairs of one’s Zarubins and you will Kheifetz, that the FBI titled new Unknown Page. 196-197). It’s clear about contents you to definitely both emails so you can Hoover and you can Stalin was sent by Mironov.
For those interested, new Anonymous Letterto Vacuum cleaner, obtained to your August eight, 1943, on Russian brand-new having English translations, is obtainable to the pp. 51-53 for the Robert Louis Benson and you will Michael Warner, eds, VENONA Soviet Espionage and the American Reaction 1919-1957, NSA, CIA. Washington, DC. 1996.