Office of the Historian

109. Telegram From the Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Department of State1

Moscow, May 12, 1965, 1305Z.

3386. Subject: Norris Garnett PNG Case.2 We have following thoughts including those on possible retaliation against Soviet Embassy Washington in response to PNG action against Garnett.

1.
Although Soviets undoubtedly hope by their move re Garnett and lurid publicity being given to case in Soviet media to discourage African students in Moscow from further contacts with U.S. and other embassies, we are not sure that this will prove to be case. Possibility exists that move may boomerang and serve to stimulate even greater discontent among African students. We will be alert to this situation in immediate future and believe it is factor to be considered in determining our own course of action.
2.
So far as reaction in Africa and West is concerned, it seems likely that Soviets could receive bad black eye from their transparent attempt to place blame on Garnett for obvious and widespread discontent among African students in USSR. We should not deflect world attention from this aspect of case by immediate PNG action against Soviets.
3.
On specific issue of reciprocity in Garnett case, we feel that at some point we should retaliate, and that PNG action to be most effective should be against relatively higher ranking member Soviet Embassy. However, in short term, there may be some deterrent value vis-á-vis Soviets in delaying such action and leaving threat of PNG move hanging over heads Soviet Embassy.

In sum, therefore, Embassy’s view is that we should retaliate for Garnett PNG action but that move should be delayed for reasons suggested above.3

Kohler
  1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 17 US–USSR. Confidential; Limdis.↩
  2. On May 11 the Foreign Ministry had declared Norris D. Garnett, Assistant Cultural Officer at the U.S. Embassy and the first African-American assigned there, persona non grata for carrying on work hostile to the USSR among African students.↩
  3. On June 1 the Department of State, following Kohler’s suggestion, declared Soviet First Secretary Stefan M. Kirsanov persona non grata in return.↩