83. Transcript of Telephone Conversation Between Secretary of State Kissinger and the Soviet Ambassador (Dobrynin)1
K: Anatoly. We just got a message from Cyprus that your Counselor asked the British High Commissioner how the British would feel about the introduction of Soviet troops to restore order.
D: Troops?
K: I can’t believe this.
D: I have no information. I have no telegram telling me this. I doubt that very much.
K: I can’t believe he would do this.
D: I doubt this and you don’t have anything from your mission? Your mission in Moscow?
K: In Moscow?
D: I mean in Moscow. They might have been in touch with them.
K: We have nothing from Moscow and nothing from Cyprus. Only that there is still fighting going on.
D: Who was it…
[Page 285]K: Your second man in the Embassy.
D: The second man come to the British…to me it sound unbelievable.
K: Me too. If you planned something like this you would talk to us.
D: Yes.
K: You know, we would not look on it with favor.
D: I know…
K: Let’s see if it calms down. There are plenty of troops there.
D: What is the latest report?
K: The latest report is they are still fighting.
D: What about Makarios?
K: I have a report from Israel. They say they heard him on the radio.
D: I know, but nothing from your Embassy. I will check with Moscow. I don’t have anything at all.
K: I don’t want to start a crisis to keep you here. I don’t want anything to interfere with your vacation.
D: I know. I want to get away. I know this could come about only if Makarios asked for it and then it would have to be discussed. But if Makarios is not there we would not do it on our own. This I am sure. This is not done at all. I doubt very much they do this on their own.
K: That is my view.
D: Ok. Be in touch.
- Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 396, Telephone Conversations, Anatoly Dobrynin. No classification marking.↩