97. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Soviet Union 0

2273. Eyes only Ambassador and Harriman. Following is text of message for Harriman to deliver to Khrushchev:

“Dear Mr. Chairman:

I have become most concerned over recent developments in Laos. As you know, I have always regarded our mutual commitment in Vienna to bring peace to that unhappy country as an important milestone in Soviet/American relations. If we could work successfully together to make Laos neutral, we could, I have thought, make progress in resolving other matters which are at issue between us.

It is because of this concern that I have asked Governor Harriman to make a special trip to confer with you as my representative on this particular aspect of our relations.1 You and your colleagues have known him well and I put great hope in the results of his discussions with you. I will be awaiting Governor Harriman’s report with keen interest.

Sincerely”

Rusk
  1. Source: Department of State, Presidential Correspondence: Lot 66 D 204. Secret; Operational Immediate. Drafted and approved by Thompson and cleared in draft by Rusk and at the White House. Repeated to London. Another copy of this message is in the Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, USSR, Khrushchev Correspondence.
  2. For a memorandum of Harriman’s conversation with Khrushchev, see vol. XXIV, pp. 10001005.