Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XV, Germany and Berlin

185. Telegram From the Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Department of State¹

Moscow, November 12, 1966.

2207. State 83455.²

1. During my farewell call on DepFonMin Semenov,³ I asked him on purely personal basis, and stressing I not making any proposals, whether Sovs still interested in ideas we had considered in our earlier discussions on German question and European security, such as reduction US and Soviet troops in Germany, exchange of observers, etc.

2. Semenov, whose previous comments made it clear Sovs want preserve status quo in Germany, responded in very guarded manner. He said it was difficult for him to comment as these questions had recently been overshadowed by others and were outside scope Soviet attention. However, he expressed view all those questions were not dead; they had not arisen by accident, and would have to be reverted to at some point if peace in Europe to be strengthened. Citing non-proliferation as example, he also noted that those questions might again arise in somewhat different form.

3. While Semenov’s remarks seem indicate continued Sov interest in some form of limited disengagement in Europe, I do not believe Sovs would be interested at this time in any formal arrangement re mutual troop reductions. For one thing, in view publicity this question in Western press they probably assume that US–UK troop levels in Europe would be reduced in any event. Also, they would not wish to substantiate ChiCom charges re US-Soviet collusion by entering formal agreement which could be interpreted as allowing transfer US forces from Europe to SEA. What concerns me most, however, is that FRG suggestion, apart from its own inherent complications, would inevitably involve us in discussions with Sovs on broader aspects of German problem, including Berlin and Oder-Neisse questions, which at this time could not be profitable and could only disturb present quiet on that front.⁴

Dept repeat elsewhere as desired.

Kohler

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files,POL US–USSR. Secret; Exdis. There is no time of transmission on the source text; the telegram was received at 10:45 a.m.
2. Telegram 83455, November 11, reported on a meeting with Carstens in which the Germans discussed the proposals for troop withdrawals they intended to send to the Soviet Union. (Ibid., POL 28 GER B)
3. Kohler left Moscow on November 14. Llewellyn Thompson presented his credentials on January 23, 1967.
4. In telegram 6197 from Bonn, November 22, McGhee commented that while agreeing with Kohler’s view that the Soviets would not agree to force reductions, he believed the United States had nothing to lose in joining Germany in a joint approach on the issue. (Department of State, Central Files, DEF 6)