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

333. Circular Telegram From the Department of State to Certain European Posts¹

Washington, December 18, 1968, 0050Z.

288756. Subject: High-Visibility Exchanges with USSR and Eastern Europe.

1. We have decided to resume gradually high-visibility exchanges with Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact participants in action against Czechoslovakia. Decision is based on long-term advantage to US of high-visibility exchanges with Soviet Union and other EE countries and results of our consultations with NATO Allies. Just as suspension of these exchanges in August served our purposes, their resumption is also in our interest as one facet of our overall policy toward USSR and Eastern Europe.

2. Insofar as Soviet Union is concerned, this decision involves resumption of negotiations for the appearance of US performing arts groups in the Soviet Union and negotiations for “Education—USA” exhibit. FYI. We are accordingly seeking two appropriate American performing arts groups which could be sent to USSR in 1969, one as early as possible to balance USSR State Symphony’s US tour scheduled begin mid-February. Acceptance USSR State Symphony remains contingent on signature of contract for one US performing arts group and satisfactory progress in negotiations for exhibit and second performing arts group. Embassy Moscow will be instructed to make this clear to Soviets at such time as we are able to provide negotiating instructions. End FYI.

3. Policy decision also provides for reversion to pre-August 20 policies on exchanges with Poland, Hungary and Bulgaria.

4. We do not plan to volunteer any public statement of policy but will respond to inquiries as change becomes known by statement that our attitude toward Soviet and EE action against Czechoslovakia has been made clear both unilaterally and in concert with our NATO Allies. Attitude is in no way altered by the resumption of exchanges.

5. For USNATO: You may draw upon foregoing in NAC December 18 during discussion of political subjects (Agenda Item I). In informing NAC of decision on resumption of exchanges, you should mention that decision partly due to fact that other Allies appear to be going ahead already with major exchange activities, as well as general agreement at December 10 POLAD’s (USNATO 6216)² that it would be appropriate to begin to modify restraints imposed on contracts with Warsaw Pact Five after invasion of Czechoslovakia. Another reason for our decision is desire to preserve exchanges program that includes activities of prime interest to us, especially since impact of performing arts groups and exhibits is invariably greater within closed Soviet society than in West.

You should then make following additional points:

a. We are seriously concerned that Allies, in renewing exchange activities, may give collective impression of desiring precipitate return to pre-August 20 normalcy.

b. Too rapid a renewal of exchanges could nullify much of psychological impact of November Ministerial Meeting decisions and affect public resolve within Allied countries to meet contributions to improve NATO defense posture.

c. We therefore strongly urge that Allies (1) resume exchanges with Warsaw Pact Five as gradually as possible; (2) try to keep closely in step on this issue through close consultations; and (3) keep public statements of this resumption as low key as possible.

Rusk

1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, EDX US–USSR. Confidential; Immediate. Drafted by Edward W. Burgess and Leo J. Reddy (EUR); cleared by CU, USIA, and five offices in EUR; and approved by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs George S. Springsteen. Sent to the Mission to NATO for Harlan Cleveland and to Moscow, Warsaw, Budapest, Prague, Bucharest, and Sofia and repeated to all NATO capitals.
2. Dated December 10. (Ibid., POL EUR E–EUR W)