394. Telegram From Secretary of State Herter to the Department of State0
Cahto 115. Paris pass USRO (eyes only Ambassador Burgess). The private meeting on June 15 lasted for two and one-half hours. It was inconclusive. The conversation was concentrated on the subject of Berlin with no discussion on the basis of the Soviet proposal of June 10 although Gromyko stated clearly that his proposal was on an equal footing with the Western proposal as a basis for continuing discussion. At the very end of the meeting Gromyko suggested that the Ministers or their representatives might consider recommendations which could be made to the UNGA for dealing with the problem of disarmament. The Western Ministers made no direct response other than indicating their recognition of the importance of the subject and a willingness to discuss it. The Ministers then reverted to the Berlin problem with the discussion following familiar lines. At its conclusion it was agreed that they would meet again in private session on Wednesday afternoon.1
- Source: Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 64 D 560, CF 1328. Secret; Niact. Repeated to Bonn, London, Paris, Moscow, and Berlin. A detailed 11-page memorandum of this conversation US/MC/103 is ibid., CF 1340.↩
- At 9:15 p.m. (Geneva time) Herter called Murphy and repeated that the private session had been inconclusive. He also suggested various changes in the proposed message to Khrushchev. (Memorandum of telephone conversation; ibid., Central Files, 396.1–GE/6–1559) Dillon then called the President and the final draft of the message (see Document 395) was agreed upon.↩