The New York Times reported from Moscow today that the Order of Lenin was conferred upon Foreign Commissar Maxim Litvinoff by President Mikhail Kalinin as “a subtle but unmistakable answer to recent rumors” that he had fallen from favor.
The order, the highest Soviet decoration, was voted to M. Litvinoff last July to mark his sixtieth birthday, but actual bestowal was deferred until yesterday. The decoration was presented in the presence of Joseph Stalin and a small group of the Soviet’s highest dignitaries.
Reports in Le Matin of Paris, quoted by the Havas News Agency, recently stated M. Litvinoff was due to be removed as part of “a systematic drive, allegedly led by Marshal Klementi Voroshilov, Soviet Army chief, to eliminate Jews from all high posts in the Soviet Government.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
