171. Editorial Note
On July 13, 1973, Soviet Ambassador Dobrynin asked President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Kissinger about the outcome of West German Foreign Minister Scheel’s visit to Washington (see Document 170). A transcript of Kissinger’s telephone conversation with Dobrynin at 4:37 p.m. reads in part: “K[issinger]: One thing I could tell you is I think that if you proceeded along the line that you and I discussed on human contacts [at CSCE]—D[obrynin]: Yeah. K: We could then help you to speed things up. D: And just how do you mean? K: Well, if you came forward—you know, if you made a forthcoming suggestion at the opening of the Commission, then I think we could use that to convince our European allies that we are making progress and that it’s now necessary to speed things up. You see what I mean? D: Yeah, I understand. And Scheel is of the same opinion? K: Well, Scheel is of the opinion—I didn’t put it to Scheel that way because I wanted it to look spontaneous. D: I understand. K: But I talked to Scheel in a sense that will make it easy for us to take the initiative—you know, to support you. D: I understand. K: I told Scheel that in our view if he showed some—you know, if you showed some response, that we then had an obligation to be flexible. D: Yeah, I understand. K: And he agreed. D: I see. It’s along the lines. Okay. I already send yesterday to Gromyko change what you mentioned to me. Of course in a general way.” The conversation continued: “K: You can now tell him that I talked to Scheel in a way that prepared the ground for that without, of course, mentioning my conversations with you. D: No, I understand. This is clear.” (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Henry A. Kissinger Telephone Transcripts (Telcons), Box 28, Anatoli Dobrynin File)