257. Editorial Note
Immediately following the meeting between Secretary Rusk and Kuznetsov on January 10, 1963 (see Document 256), the Secretary hosted a luncheon for the Soviet visitor. Following lunch, Ambassador Dobrynin handed the Secretary a paper, which Dobrynin called an “oral presentation,” on the subject of the non-transfer of nuclear weapons. (Memorandum for the files by Guthrie, February 26; Department of State, Central Files, DEF 18-6) The paper, dated January 10, outlined the Soviet Government’s agreement in principle with the goal of preventing the further proliferation of nuclear weapons in the interest of reducing the risk of nuclear war but raised several reservations to the U.S. position on the issue. (Ibid., Presidential Correspondence: Lot 77 D 163, More Pen Pals 63) See the Supplement.
Much in the Soviet paper was a response to an earlier U.S. draft declaration on the subject, which Secretary Rusk had given to Dobrynin on December 10, 1962. Regarding this U.S. draft, see Document 248. Secretary Rusk forwarded the Soviet paper under cover of a January 10 memorandum to McGeorge Bundy. The Secretary wrote:
“The President will be interested in seeing the enclosed paper which represents an ‘oral presentation’ made by Ambassador Dobrynin to me today on the subject of the non-transfer of nuclear weapons. Ambassador Thompson and I have kept him informed about our attitude and the fact that we were taking the matter up with the British and the French.
“On its face, the enclosed communication sounds somewhat negative but I am inclined to believe that if we get agreement from the British, French and Germans, the obstacles raised by the Soviets are due to misunderstanding about details. Hence, I am not too discouraged by what is said here.” (Department of State, Presidential Correspondence: Lot 77 D 163, More Pen Pals 63)