Office of the Historian

48. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Soviet Union1

Washington, October 6, 1964, 1:16 p.m.

959. Toon should see Smirnovsky again earliest opportunity and make oral statement following points under instructions his government: [Page 115]

  • “1. Soviet note in response to our protest violation diplomatic immunity Embassy personnel in Khabarovsk is not satisfactory, particularly in that it offers no apology for violation.2
  • 2. Smirnovsky’s oral remarks are equally unacceptable and are rejected.
  • 3. U.S. Government has no intention of recalling attachés who were grossly mistreated by Soviet officials who violated their diplomatic immunity while they were sleeping in bed in middle of night.
  • 4. We hope Soviet Government will consider carefully before taking any additional actions in this matter which will further harm relations between our countries.”3

FYI. At noon press briefing Oct. 6 Department spokesman will be prepared to answer inevitable questions with response that Soviet note has been received, it is unsatisfactory and we are reiterating our protest.

We are hoping to stall development this confrontation at least long enough to permit our men to return to Moscow for more easy and orderly departure. We assume, however, that PNG action or revocation of visas may result and we are prepared to retaliate with PNG action against three Soviet attachés of similar rank.

Would welcome any further suggestions or recommendations from Embassy. Does Embassy consider written reply desirable later? If so, pls suggest draft. End FYI.

Rusk
  1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 17–2 US–USSR. Confidential; Immediate. Drafted and approved by Henry; cleared by Thompson, Davis, BNA, FE, INR, P, NEA, and DOD. Repeated to London, Hong Kong, New Delhi, and Tokyo.↩
  2. In telegram 994, October 6, Kohler reported that in a meeting that morning Smirnovsky handed Toon a note rejecting the U.S. protest of September 29 and made an oral statement that “Sovs prepared refrain from declaring attachés PNG if embassy itself would take measures to recall them from USSR.” The note rejecting the protest was transmitted to Washington in telegram 995, October 6. (Both ibid.) For text of the note, see American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1964, p. 668.↩
  3. On October 7 Kohler reported that Toon had made the oral statement as instructed to Smirnovsky, who said he would report it to higher authority and reiterated that the Soviet Government had ample proof of the espionage committed by the attachés. (Telegram 1017 from Moscow; National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 17–2 US–USSR) On the following day the Department of State instructed the Embassy to take no further action, leaving it to the Soviet Government to make the next move. (Telegram 990 to Moscow; ibid.)↩