Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XV, Berlin Crisis, 1962–1963

4. Telegram From President Kennedy to Secretary of State Rusk, at Geneva⁰

Washington, March 11, 1962.

CAP 5114–52. For Mr. Rusk from the President. You have the latest Khrushchev letter,¹ and you also have the problem of harassment in the corridors. In this situation I cannot give you binding instructions from here. But I do want you to know once again of my own strong belief that we must not spare any effort to find a modus vivendi. Khrushchev’s proposal of an international organ on access, though at present attached to a quite unacceptable condition, does offer a real chance of progress, and I think you should add the idea of such an organ to your presentation on a modus vivendi. We should certainly register our opinion of chaff and of Soviet flight plans for Monday.² Still, I myself am most concerned not to miss the chance of starting a serious discussion of a modus vivendi, and I depend on you to press strongly in this direction. With all my confidence and best wishes.

John F. Kennedy

0. Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Germany, Berlin. Secret; Eyes Only.
1. Document 3.
2. On March 10 the Soviets announced that they would operate inbound and outbound flights in the southern corridor to Berlin at altitudes that were normally reserved for Western flights to Berlin.