What is needed is a constructive suggestion as to what kind of a statmement   
on religious freedom would be adequate if the Soviet authorities were   
disposed to make it and mean it.
 
     
 
 
First of all, it is not thought that any such statement need include an   
explicit reference to the past. A Justification of the past would not be   
accepted, and a confession can hardly be expected in the circumstances.
 
     
 
 
The following might meet the face-saving requirements of the situation   
and constitute a declaration which, if sincerely made, would be meaningful:
 
    
 
 
"In view of the loyal participation of all our people in the defense of  
the Fatherland under the direction of constituted authority in the state, the   
Soviet Government, interpreting and applying Article 124 of the U.S.S.R.   
Constitution, publicly proclaims complete religious freedom, including freedom   
of worship and freedom of religious teaching, in all the territories of the   
Soviet Union.
 
     
 
 
"Abuse of these freedoms to incite or organize political movements will   
be dealt with in individual cases according to law."
 
     
 
 
If the Soviet Government will take action that justifies a statement of   
this Eind, it will have contributed immensely to Present morale and future   
harmony among the United Nations. If it will not, then it is evidently better   
not to make, even by implication, a commitment on the acceptability of an   
ambiguous statement which would only aggravate the difficulty of post-war  
discussions by having another untrustworthy declaration on the record.