Operation Solo (47 page)

 

Translation of carbon copy from Comintern files.

 

Carbon copy from Comintern files.

 

Original letter from KGB files. Signature is G. Dimitrov; the letter is marked top secret in upper right hand corner.

 

“Complaints about special privileges in the socialist countries”

Like virtually everybody else, Morris Childs knew well that in communist countries the
Nomenklatura
, or ruling class, enjoyed privileges, perquisites, and luxuries denied the general populace. Morris himself frequented one of their special stores where he could select quality imported products for free. Yet to burnish his image as an old-time, idealistic Bolshevik, Morris submitted this memorandum to the International Department of the Central Committee, as if he had discovered something shocking.

 

“Able Kit—Hill—CONFIDENTIAL”

Morris Childs could talk and write like a communist, as well as think like one. In this rough draft of a memorandum to the International Department, he displays the mastery that helped convince communist dictators that he truly was one of them. (“Able Kit” was the contemporary code for the Central Committee of the Communist Party in the USSR.)

 

“To the Communist Parties in the capitalist countries...”

The Soviets regularly issued instructions to Communist Parties throughout the world and expected them to be obeyed. This order received by the American Party is typical.

 

“To Gus Hall”

The Soviets repeatedly asked Hall to analyze public opinion and political trends. Most of the responses actually were composed by Morris. This is a deciphered request to Hall.

 

“Anxious to receive from Oak”

This is a representative operational message radioed by the KGB to Jack Childs on behalf of the International Department. This version has been deciphered but still contains some code words: “Oak” means Gus Hall; “Spring” means Jack Childs; “Shoe” means money; “200 pairs of shoes” means $200,000. In the first paragraph, “cc” stands for Central Committee.

INDEX

Able Kit

ABM.
See
Antiballistic missile defenses

Adams, James

Agent 58.
See
Childs, Morris

Agent 66.
See
Childs, Eva Lieb

Agent 69.
See
Childs, Jack

Agriculture

Albert, Carl

American Communist Party.
See also
Communist Political Association: attempt to rerecruit Morris; denial of visas to Soviets seeking to attend convention; Dennis as leader; disbandment of; as early target of SOLO operation; emergence from the underground; FBI arrest of officials; Hall as leader; KGB contact in; Morris as editor of
Daily Worker
; national convention; party budget; report of informant; Soviet anger at disbandment; Soviet belief in the American party; Soviet payments to; subsidies from the Soviet Union; treatment of Morris during illness “American Exceptionalism”