The article presents an overview of some reports on collectivization and famine in Ukraine from documents produced by American diplomats of the Division of Eastern European Affairs at the US Department of State who were stationed in Europe. The documents are from State Department collections located at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). The author emphasizes that the highest government authorities in Washington, D.C., were well informed about the catastrophic, man-made famine unfolding in Ukraine, but did not protest against such an unprecedented crime. Even as they remained silent, US diplomats made preparations for the official recognition of the Soviet Union, aimed at facilitating closer economic collaboration with the USSR. “Political pragmatism” and “economic egoism” are given as the main reasons why the US State Department ignored the information and entreaties of Ukrainian politicians and organizations as well as of some citizens of the US and other countries to help the millions of starving people.
BOLIANOVSKYI et al. (Thu,) studied this question.