711.5622/4–1150: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Kirk) to the Secretary of State 1
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1093. Responding to request I called on Vishinsky at Foreign Ministry at noon today and he handed me note full translation in following telegram number 1094.2 Note alleges violation territory at Libau on 8 April at 1739 hours Moscow time (minus 3 Z3) by USA plane B–29, intercepted by Soviet fighters, fire exchanged, no Soviet casualties, US plane disappeared to seaward.
Note was read by Vishinsky and translated by interpreter Pastoev4 piecemeal. Vishinsky’s manner serious but not aggressive nor antagonistic. I said note would be transmitted at once to my government and matter would be investigated.
Then asked questions on various points as follows: (1) visibility, was told adequate to read markings on incoming plane and to see signals (described as rocking wings by fighters); (2) were plane numbers recorded, answer only “markings”; (3) was plane clearly US [Page 1141] and not British or French, reply plane clearly identified as US; (4) asked if any casualties, reply “Soviets none, as far as Vishinsky knew”; (5) questioned as to clock time in use by Soviet planes from Libau first reply was local Libau time, but Pastoev phoned at 1230 to say time was identified as “Moscow time” which is minus 3 Z.
Evident Vishinsky was not completely familiar technical aviation aspects of investigation, which terseness of note confirms. Note bears no notation indicating “confidential” or otherwise and question publicity did not arise. However, past record unreassuring this point, and by coincidence one Embassy employee just received phone call from Stockholm newsman asking if Embassy has news regarding Soviet plane down in Baltic (reply was of course negative).
I recommend speediest investigation and I be kept informed promptest. Further recommend publicity our side should be avoided or, if unavoidable, minimized. I did not have impression Vishinsky was preparing create situation of real gravity although his manner definitely serious and may mask something in propaganda line. Suspect also possibility Soviet planes may have in fact attacked US plane outside territorial waters and present démarche in nature offensive defense.
As regards foreign press correspondents Moscow I intend no comment for present, but if story breaks will say all comments must come from Washington.
- This telegram, as well as telegram 1094, was also sent for Lt. Gen. John Kenneth Cannon, Commander in Chief of United States Air Forces in Europe. Copies of Doth telegrams were handed to a representative of the United States Air Force in Washington at 10:55 a. m. on April 11. G. Frederick Reinhardt, Officer in Charge of Soviet Union Affairs and Acting Director of the Office of Eastern European Affairs, was notified at 9:40 a. m. of the arrival of these telegrams.↩
- Infra. ↩
- Three hours later than Greenwich meridian mean time.↩
- Vsevolod Vladimirovich Pastoyev was an interpreter in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union.↩