The Death of Amerika

Ever since the State Department launched Amerika, a LiFE-like Russian-language picture magazine, in 1945, it has been a thorn in the Communists' side. To remove the thorn, the Soviet government methodically harassed Amerika, censoring articles and cutting its circulation--in violation of an agreement with the U.S. to distribute 50,000 copies (TIME, June 23). Even so, Amerika proved so popular that a lively black market flourished, with copies selling for twice present newsstand price of five rubles (about $1.25).

Last week, after repeated protests to the Reds, State did what the Russians wanted: it closed up Amerika. In retaliation, State ordered the Reds to stop U.S. circulation of the Soviet Embassy's U.S.S.R. Information Bulletin and other embassy pamphlets, a meaningless counterblow, since the Reds can print all the propaganda they want to in Manhattan's Daily Worker and other Communist publications. Said the New York Times: "The suspension of Amerika is regrettable because it was the last direct means of giving the Russian people a glimpse of American life and American aims in refutation of Soviet lies. That is ... the reason why the Soviets wished to keep it out of Russian hands."

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