Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XIV, Soviet Union

206. Memorandum of Conversation¹

Washington, March 10, 1967.

SUBJECT

• Case of Svetlana Alliluyeva

PARTICIPANTS

• Soviet Ambassador Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
• Deputy Under Secretary Foy D. Kohler

Ambassador Dobrynin called on request. I told him that we wished to be completely frank and honest with him with respect to our involvement in the case of Madame Svetlana Alliluyeva.

In this connection I wanted him to know precisely what had happened in New Delhi and to realize that our intervention was purely humanitarian in accord with the long established American tradition. Since it contained the most complete account of these events and since it should be assumed that the document would likely become available to the Soviets, in one way or another, in Delhi, I read to him Ambassador Bowles’ letter of March 10, 1967 to Mr. C.S. Jha, Foreign Secretary of the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He took copious notes and has almost a complete version of that letter (copy attached).² After he had fully noted this account of events in Delhi, I told him that it was my understanding that she had applied to the Swiss Government for a visa allowing her to visit there for rest and recuperation and that the Swiss Government had acceded to her request. I understood that she was already in Switzerland and assumed that there would be news confirming this out of Switzerland tomorrow.

I went on to say that the United States has no desire whatsoever to exploit the case. As he would have been able to judge for himself, we had shown restraint by refusing any comment whatsoever up to the present time, and we would continue to show restraint. We would comment publicly only if we were obliged to do so because of what others might say, specifically either the Soviets themselves or the Indians. I continued that the United States Government hopes that this case will not do damage to Soviet-American bilateral relations at this delicate juncture; that our actions have been and continue to be guided by that consideration. This was the reason why I was being so full and explicit and frank in letting him know precisely the extent of our involvement.

I said that we had no desire to have Svetlana come to the United States and that she seemed to have agreed that this would not be in her own best interest or in the best interest of either the United States or the Soviet Union or of the relations between the two.

I said that Svetlana’s future depended exclusively on her. She had never been in our custody nor had her movements been determined by us. I understood that at the present time she did not wish to return to the USSR but that it was really her decision where she would go after her visit to Switzerland.

Ambassador Dobrynin expressed what seemed to be real and heartfelt appreciation for this communication. He said that he had noted the press stories and had heard many rumors and had feared that troubles might ensue. He said he was accordingly very thankful to have this full explanation. He added with apparent relief that it would now be up to his colleague in Switzerland to pursue the case by trying to have a talk with Svetlana.

1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 30 USSR. Secret; Nodis. Drafted by Kohler. Walt Rostow forwarded a copy to the President under a March 11 covering memorandum. (Johnson Library, National Security File, Intelligence File, Svetlana Alliluyeva)
2. Not printed.