611.61/10–1551: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the Soviet Union
272. Urtel 641, Oct 15. Concur ur proposal inform correspondents of visit Vishinsky confining yourself to mere fact of call without ref subj unless Sovs publish their version.
We think from tone reply Sov publication is likely and are preparing text Kirk’s remarks for release that event. Will transmit text Emb.
If Sovs do not publish, our thinking coincides yours that purpose exchange accomplished by making US views known Stalin and that nothing to be gained by initiating publicity which will give currency false misleading charges contained reply.
No objection your informing Brit, French colleagues substance reply in confidence.1
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In the early morning of October 18 (EST) the Soviet radio broadcast an account of the Kirk–Vyshinsky conversation. A text of Mr. Vyshinsky’s statement of October 15 (reprinted from Soviet News, October 19, 1951) is published in (R.I.I.A.) Documents on International Affairs, 1951, pp. 650–654, and corresponds closely to the text of the Soviet broadcast. Shortly after the Soviet broadcast, the Department of State issued a press release, dated October 17, setting forth the Kirk and Vyshinsky statements; for the text, see the Department of State Bulletin, October 29, 1951, pp. 687–691. The Soviet and American published accounts of the talks are essentially the same and follow the lines of telegram 249, October 3, and telegram 253, October 4, to Moscow, and telegram 639, October 15, from Moscow, pp. 987, 994, and 1042.
Mr. Bohlen, who gave a background briefing to newsmen in Washington at the time of the Department of State’s issuance of the press release, was asked about the prominence given in Mr. Vyshinsky’s statement to the terms “undesirable consequences” and “unpleasantnesses”. He replied that Mr. Vyshinsky apparently was attempting to make this appear as a U.S. threat, although it was clear from Ambassador Kirk’s statement that no such threat was made or intended. (Memoranda by Lincoln White (795.00/10–1851) and Robert Lambert (795.00/10–1851))
In its telegram 2107, October 19, to London the Department of State made the following comments:
“… It is characteristic of Sovs to maintain secrecy in such instances where they are seriously concerned with obtaining results and … fact Sovs have published their reply and its obvious propaganda nature suggests they had other motives.… While language typically obscure, aside from repetition of familiar propaganda themes, Sov reply seems to confirm that their support for armistice talks has not altered.” (611.61/10–1851)
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