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

83. Telegram From Secretary of State Rusk to the Department of State⁰

Geneva, July 23, 1962, 10 a.m.

Secto 25. Eyes only President and Acting Secy. No other distribution. Full record on conversation last evening with Gromyko coming separate telegram.¹ My guess is that we shall have at least one more talk here. I clearly got impression that they expect additional discussions here or later but this is no guarantee that they will not make sudden move to press sudden and separate peace treaty. However, Gromyko last evening both in manner and words seemed to emphasize their preference for an agreed solution and this I reciprocated.

Most important point arose when I, after consultation with Western FonMins, asked him very directly and specifically what he meant day before when he said that they “would sign peace treaty with GDR and would carry out necessary measures to provide for undeviating respect for GDR sovereignty.” His first reply was that this meant that after peace treaty Western Powers would have to make their arrangements with GDR. I flatly rejected this as an answer saying that he was merely saying “go ask the ventriloquist’s dummy” and that I knew that Soviets would not be so insane as to transfer such vital matter into the hands of Ulbricht. He refused to answer again except to repeat what he had said earlier. I suspect this means either that he had no instructions at all or that Soviet Govt has not really made up its mind.

In general, tone of meeting last evening was somewhat better than day before and I got no impression that Gromyko was here to deliver us an ultimatum involving war or peace.

Would greatly appreciate highest level Departmental reaction, including Bohlen’s, to two conversations held thus far as assistance my thinking for possible third round.

Rusk

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 762.00/7–2362. Secret; Niact. Eyes Only. Passed to the White House. According to another copy, this telegram was drafted by Rusk. (Ibid., Conference Files: Lot 65 D 533, CF 2134)
1. Secto 30 from Geneva, July 23. (Ibid., Central Files, 110.11–RU/7–2362) A memorandum of the conversation is ibid., Conference Files: Lot 65 D 533, CF 2136.