201. Telegram From the Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Department of State1
3559. 1. My call on Kosygin ten a.m. this morning lasted two hours and ten minutes. In addition to Vietnam, which took bulk of time, other subjects discussed were ABMs, Soviet agriculture and industry, and [Page 459] some bilateral matters, all of which being reported in septels.2 Kosygin was accompanied by Kornienko, Troyanovsky, and interpreter. I had Akalovsky with me.
2. Atmosphere during meeting was very businesslike, with Kosygin stressing Soviet desire for relaxation of tensions in general and improved US-Soviet relations in particular. One thing that struck me especially is Kosygin’s obvious preoccupation with China.
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files, 1967–69, POL US–USSR. Secret; Immediate; Nodis.↩
- All dated February 18. Telegram 3562, which reported on Vietnam, is printed in Foreign Relations, 1964–1968, vol. V, Document 85. The text of telegram 3560, which reported on ABMs, is ibid., vol. XI, Document 182. Telegram 3565, which reported on Soviet agriculture and industry, is at the National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL US–USSR. For reports on bilateral issues, see Documents 202 and 203. Telegram 3561 summarized the discussion of a leased line to improve communication facilities between the Moscow Embassy and Washington. (Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, USSR, Moscow Embassy Communications Problems) Copies of Thompson’s telegrams were forwarded to President Johnson on November 18. (Memorandum from Rostow to the President, February 18; ibid., Vol. XIV)↩