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

31. Telegram From the Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Department of State ¹

Moscow, May 19, 1964, 1 p.m.

3499. Deptel 3334.² I saw Kuznetsov at 1100 local today and handed him protest note³ on microphones, revised in accordance reftel. I also left with him one device (Emb technician had previously deactivated and eradicated serial number from device) and two photographs showing method of installation.

After reading note, Kuznetsov said naturally he was not familiar with situation and thus not in position comment now. He would report protest to appropriate authorities and MFA would meanwhile look into matter. He went on to say that MFA regards it as obligation to provide for “secure” operations of Embassy and certainly it is not “our” practice impede effectiveness of such operations. Sov missions in US have at times felt their personnel subject to “obstacles” which do not facilitate effective operations. Kuznetsov recalled that in 1962 when on UN duty he had been shown device installed in legs of table Sov mission had sent to local shop for repairs; also he recalled complaint by Sov personnel with regard to tampering with automobiles repaired locally. His recollection was that Sov authorities had not made “strong protest” with regard these incidents. He wondered why we had chosen to make “strong” protest in this case.

I replied that system of listening devices we had uncovered was so shockingly extensive—covering virtually entire Embassy building, including living quarters, that we felt “strong protest” was indeed warranted.

Comment: Kuznetsov was as amiable and forthcoming as he could be in circumstances. He made no inquiries as to possible publicity of our protest and I refrained from any comment on this score. Next following telegram contains text of note as delivered.

Kohler

1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, BG 16 MOSCOW. Secret; Limdis.
2. Dated May 16, it transmitted four changes in the draft note and informed the Embassy that the Department of State was planning to announce the discovery of the listening devices shortly after the note had been delivered. (Ibid.) The Department of State released a statement on May 19; for text, see American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1964, pp. 665–666.
3. The text of the 3-paragraph note, which strongly protested the installation of listening devices in the Embassy, was transmitted in telegram 3501 from Moscow, May 19. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, BG 16 MOSCOW) On May 30 the Soviet Foreign Ministry rejected the U.S. protest as an attempt by American officials to conceal their widespread eavesdropping on Soviet missions and personnel in the United States. (Telegram 3634 from Moscow, May 30; ibid., POL 17–2 USSR-US) A memorandum of the conversation on May 30 was transmitted as an enclosure to airgram A–1746, June 5. (Ibid., POL 1 US–USSR)