Communist activities in the peace movement (Women Strike for ...

COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE PEACE MOVEMENT 2069
At that time I didn't exactly want to meet Mishukov, although I
didn't want to be discourteous, and so I set a tentative appointment
with him and I went down to see somebody whom I know at the
U.S. attorney's office where I had worked.
In a conversation with the U.S. attorney, I then called the Bureau,
which asked me if I would meet with Mishukov, see what he wanted,
and report back to them, which I did.
Mr. NiTTLE. Will you tell us about the subsequent contacts with
Mishukov?
Mr. Flink. During the succeeding 3 years, I meet with Mishukov
on various occasions. Our meetings were usually held—although
there were times when there were breaks—on an average of twice a
month. Most of these meetings were devoted to social, philosophical,
ideological discussions.
Mr. NiTTLE. Now, would you tell us in substance what those discussions
were?
Mr. Flink. Primarily, Mishukov and myself built up a so-called
friendly relationship, predicated primarily on our mutual desire for
peace.
At the time when I first met Mishukov, he was married, as he told
me, and had a young child, and his greatest desire was that we have
peace in the world. I agreed with him, and our relationship then
built up from there.
Primarily, our initial discussions dealt with my attitude towards
the Soviet people, towards the Soviet Union, towards Premier
Khrushchev's good-will tour in the United States.
As it developed, we went from the realm of ideology, as we had
been discussing communism, Marxism, Leninism, we then proceeded
on to topics of more current interest, such as disarmament, increased
trade, and areas related to these fields.
Mr. NiTTLE. During the course of your discussions on the subject
of disarmament and related fields, what did Mishukov tell you?
Mr. Flink. Well, basically, my relationship with IMishukov was a
very frustrating one. I was in a position where I had to listen and
not antagonize Mishukov or seem as if I was probing for answers,
and Mishukov seemed to always bring the discussion around to topics
such as disarmament. When we would discuss disarmament, Mishukov's
primary feeling on this subject was that the United States did
not genumely want disarmament, that disarmament was only an
interest of the Soviet Union, and his reasons for stating this were as
follows:
Disarmament, in Mishukov's view, could only be achieved where
a planned economy was present. The Soviet Union had a planned
economy and, therefore, by government planning of the means of
production, disarmament could be achieved at any time.
The United States, in Mishukov's view, did not genuinely want
disarmament, because disarmament could not be achieved under our
system, primarily because we did not have government planning,
and disarmament would, therefore, be left in the hands of private
industrialists who could or could not, at their own will, choose to
disarm or choose to continue with peaceful production.
Mishukov, likewise, was of the opinion that the industrialists were
pushing the Government to continue munitions contracts, military
contracts, and that it was in the interest of both the Government and