740.5/2–2752: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Department of State 1
Secto 91. At Deputies mtg yesterday Spofford announced action proposed by US to regulate travel of Soviet officials wld be postponed to March 10 to permit other governments to take simultaneous action. Proposed action by US originally scheduled for February 16 had been postponed to February 29 at request of NATO governments and has now been further deferred in view of desire of all governments, except Denmark, Norway, Iceland, and Portugal, to take similar steps. In discussion this subject deputies placed great emphasis on desirability of concerted action.
US now proposes to send following note to Soviet Embassy Washington on March 10.
[Here follows the proposed text of the note to the Soviet Embassy [Page 292] on the restriction of travel of Soviet officials. The draft was essentially the same as the text ultimately delivered to the Soviet Embassy on March 10; see Department of State Bulletin, March 24, 1952, page 451.]
It is hoped NATO governments, with exception those noted above will be prepared to take similar action by March 10. In view of fact that any further deferment of proposed US action is highly unlikely, suggest you urge government to which accredited to arrange for necessary measures by that date. Action taken need not be identical provided it is generally similar and taken at same time.
- This telegram was also sent to all other NATO capitals.↩