795.00/7–1150: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
niact
[Received July 11—2:26 p. m.]
99. Eyes only for the Secretary. Kelly saw Gromyko this afternoon (London telegram 210, July 10). His report of conversation, copy of which will not be available to us until tomorrow morning, is being repeated immediately to British Embassy Washington.1 Kelly states that speaking from notes he presented to Gromyko the substance of his instructions in considerable detail. Gromyko heard him out and then after some clarification of the translation remarked on only three points. First, he took issue with Kelly’s statement concerning the North Korean attack, reiterating the Soviet contention that the attack was “provoked” by ROK. Second, he inquired why the British specifically sought Soviet influence with the North Koreans. Third, he mentioned the British reference to “running so far ahead”. Kelly refuted Gromyko’s charge of ROK provocation along the obvious line, said that Soviet influence with the North Koreans was being invoked because Soviet relations with that government were known to be close and repeated that he could not “run ahead” with any “proposals” as such, since the British were acting as a member of the UN and consequently could not properly make “proposals”.
Gromyko concluded that the matter would be referred to the Soviet Government. No mention was made by Gromyko or Kelly either of China or Formosa.
Department pass London; repeated info London niact 33, eyes only for the Ambassador from Moscow.
- On the following day, Mr. H. A. Graves, Counselor of the British Embassy, met with Livingston T. Merchant and read him the text of the telegram (not printed) which Ambassador Kelly had sent to the Foreign Office (895.00/7–1250).↩