239. Memorandum From Nathaniel Davis of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant (Rostow) and the President’s Deputy Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bator)1
SUBJECT
- Soviet Cancellation of Performing Arts Tour in the United States
It looks as if the Soviets are persisting in their refusal to send their Festival of Arts2 to the United States. The Secretary raised the matter again with Dobrynin last Saturday and Foy Kohler has raised it with Tcherniakov—in both cases without a definite answer. However, the Soviet Embassy told Hurok3 yesterday that the tour is “indefinitely postponed.” As for the reasons, I think it is pretty clear that the Soviets feel uncomfortable about Hollybush and any impression to the world that we and they are moving toward a better, or parallel relationship. The Mid-East is still smarting and their setbacks in New York don’t help. The Festival of Arts group would be opening at the Lincoln Center in six days—which is a particularly poor place. Yuri Zhukov made some remarks to Hurok’s man in Moscow about concern over anti-Soviet demonstrations in New York. Madame Furtseva, the Minister of Culture, was probably closer to the real reason when she said to Hurok that the Mid-East crisis was the problem.
The Soviets have said informally that we should not regard this as affecting other exchanges, although this could be a stall. We shall soon see, as a circus exchange (with the American circus going to the Soviet Union) is in the offing. In general, the Soviets have regarded their attractions coming to the United States as in their interest—as well as big money makers. Therefore they are paying something for cancelling the Festival of Arts (as is Sol Hurok, who claims he stands to lose one-third of a million dollars). With the Secretary having made two personal representations to Dobrynin and with other approaches to the Russians here and in Moscow, it is difficult to see there is much we can or should do about this—particularly as it has been our consistent [Page 568] position that it is up to the Soviets whether they want to bring attractions to this country. I doubt if a personal intervention by the President would be effective, and do not recommend it.
Press Treatment (Late Bulletin)
Hurok has just told UPI, AP and the New York Times. The Times called the Soviet Embassy and was told that “the reasons have been given to the Americans.” The Times then called the State Department, which confirmed that the Soviets had given “the international situation” as their reason. I should think, on fairly deep background, we might indicate that with the Mid-East, the UN, etc., the Soviets seem to have been casting about for a gesture that is conspicuous, but not necessarily of deep policy significance.