Letter from Seán Nunan to Frederick H. Boland (Dublin)
(47/9/47) (Copy)

I desire to draw your particular attention to the article 'Sources of Soviet Conduct' which appears in the July issue of Foreign Affairs forwarded herewith.

It is generally stated in newspapers here that 'X', the author of the article, is George F. Kennan,¹ head of the Secretary of State's long range planning committee, and the assertions to this effect made by many publicists have not been denied. If this is so, it may safely be assumed that the views put forward in the article reflect the views of the Department of State and may indicate the policy the Department will pursue vis-à-vis Russia.

Mr. Kennan's official career most certainly gave him the opportunity to become acquainted with Russian policy and practice, and I think he may be considered as being as well informed on the subject as any outsider. During his career, he served at Geneva, Hamburg, Berlin, Tallinn, and Riga up to 1933 when he accompanied Ambassador Bullitt to Moscow where he served until 1938, with the exception of four months in Vienna. He went to Prague in 1938, Berlin from 1939 to 1942, and was Counsellor of Legation at Lisbon from August 1942 until December 1943 when he was delegate to the European Advisory Council in London. In May 1944 he again went to Moscow as Counsellor of Embassy there and returned to the State Department in April, 1946.