Volkogonov (Letter)

Russian Historian Dmitri Volkogonov’s 1992 Letter to John Lowenthal

PEOPLE’S DEPUTY OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION, 1990-1995

Esteemed Mr. Lowenthal!

Once again I inform you and ask you: please convey to Mr. A. Hiss the following:

On his and your request, I carefully studied many documents from the archives of the intelligence services of the USSR as well as various information provided for me by the archive staff. On the basis of a very careful analysis of all the information available, I can inform you that Alger Hiss was never an agent of the intelligence services of the Soviet Union. When in the 40’s he worked as a diplomat, Mr. A. Hiss did have official professional contacts with Soviet officials. But Mr. A. Hiss had never and nowhere been recruited as an agent of the intelligence services of the USSR. Not a single document, and a great amount of materials has been studied, substantiates the allegation that Mr. A. Hiss collaborated with the intelligence services of the Soviet Union. Probably, such old allegations are based on a misunderstanding or incorrect information. I believe that public opinion should have long since cleared Mister Hiss of the old suspicions, which are completely groundless.

With respect, and sincerely

Professor Dm Volkogonov

14 October 1992