Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, Korea and China, Volume VII, Part 1

611.61/9–2151: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in the Soviet Union ¹

top secret

Washington, September 28, 1951—9 p. m.

224. Embtel 491 Sep 21.² For ur info only since not yet cleared by Def or fully by Dept.

We agree you might take occasion before departure Moscow Oct 6 make oral request Vyshinsky call on Stalin. However you shld not request appt for this purpose until receipt Depts further instrs. In requesting see Stalin you shld explain you are leaving Oct 6 and expect attend UN GA sessions Paris; that it is possible you may not return Sov Union, though no final decision has been reached re successor and that pending final decision you remain as Amb and may possibly return Moscow for brief period; that it is over two years since you last saw Premier Stalin and you wld much appreciate opportunity see him again before you leave in Oct. If Vyshinsky inquires whether you have particular subject discuss with Stalin, in your discretion you may reply you have been authorized discuss certain matters with him.

If Vyshinsky immed dismisses possibility interview with Stalin same grounds as refusal Brit Amb,³ you shld express your disappointment and say that in this contingency you authorized discuss with Vyshinsky matters in question and request this be brought personal attn PriMin.

If by chance you are accorded interview with Stalin, this fact will certainly become known or probably published by Sov press as customary in past. As we do not wish make public matter discussed, in response newspaper inquiries we wld desire link your visit exclusively your imminent departure USSR for lengthy period GA. If matter is discussed with Vyshinsky alone, there shld be no need any public statement.

Instrs on matter be discussed with Stalin or Vyshinsky follow in separate tel. We shall want inform Brit and Fr Govts in confidence nature your approach. When Moscow receives final instrs make approach London and Paris shld inform Morrison and Schuman our instrs to you. You may inform your Brit and Fr colleagues very gen terms results approach, leaving full details to be communicated personally by London and Paris to Morrison and Schuman.

Webb

1. Repeated for information to London as telegram 1743, to Paris as telegram 1882, and to Tokyo as telegram 509.

2. The text of this telegram is printed in the Soviet compilation in volume iv . In it, Ambassador Kirk had asked Mr. Acheson about the advisability of a call on Foreign Minister Vyshinsky or Prime Minister Stalin before departing the Soviet Union for the General Assembly meeting in Paris. Concerning the subjects to be taken up, Mr. Kirk made no specific mention of Korea but concluded his telegram as follows:

   “As to topics conversation my thinking would be to make two points: (1) Assurance in calm serious vein that we are not preparing to fight Soviets, elaborating as may seem proper but not apologetic; (2) express hope Mr. Stalin is being fully informed by his sources of hardening of temper of Western world (and US in particular) in face of continued Soviet aggressive and intransigent attitude towards everybody and everything outside Soviet orbit. (Exact phrasing and development above points should be carefully studied).

   “Of course other topics as you may decide could be mentioned.” (611.61/9–2151)

3. In telegram 491, Mr. Kirk had said that when Sir David Kelly, with the approval of the Foreign Office, asked to say good-bye to Stalin before leaving Moscow on September 22, Vyshinsky told him that it would be quite impractical since Stalin was so far away from Moscow.

   At this time, Stalin was reported to be in the Black Sea area; see telegram 232 to Moscow, October 1, p. 980.