Office of the Historian

164. Memorandum From the Director of the Office of Soviet Union Affairs (McSweeney) to the Director of the Executive Secretariat (Stoessel)1

Washington, September 16, 1960.

SUBJECT

  • Soviet Note Concerning Restrictions on Khrushchev’s Movements

Mr. Kornienko, Counselor of the Soviet Embassy, called on Mr. Kohler this afternoon to hand him a further communication concerning the restrictions imposed on Khrushchev’s movements while in this country. As was the case with the Soviet communication of September 13,2 the statement is made in the name of the Soviet Government.

The tone of the present note, however, differs markedly from that of the statement of September 13. While regretting the unfriendly spirit of the restrictions, it accepts them and goes on in a way which seems to constitute a plea for return to the pre-summit relations between the US and the USSR. In spots this communication reads almost like Khrushchev’s letters to the President prior to May and may indeed have been drafted by him. This is particularly noticeable in reference to the need for disarmament, the responsibility of the “two great atomic powers” and the use of personal forms of address such as “we”, “our”, and “yours”. The statement further, although containing a sharp reference to the U–2, completely neglects the RB–47 at a point [Page 325] where, in keeping with current Soviet propaganda, it should have been referred to. An informal translation is attached.3

  1. Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 59, Conference Files: FRC 83–0068, CF 1772. Confidential. Drafted by Barnes. Initialed for McSweeney by Davis E. Boster, Deputy Director of the Office of Soviet Union Affairs, Bureau of European Affairs. Sent also to Bohlen and Wallner; and initialed by Herter. Attached to the source text was a September 17 note from Stoessel bringing the memorandum to Herter’s attention.↩
  2. See Document 156.↩
  3. Not printed. Kohler recommended in a September 17 memorandum to Merchant that the Department not respond to the note. (Washington National Records Center, RG 59, Conference Files: FRC 83–0068, CF 1772)↩