701.6111/1249a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman)
1399. The Soviet Ambassador called on me, this morning at his request to inform me that he had been ordered home to report and consult with his Government. I expressed regret at his departure but added that I believed that a visit to his Government at the present [Page 883] time might be of great help in promoting better mutual understanding between our peoples and that he would be able to emphasize to his Government how important it was that all of the great powers at present united in a great cooperative effort should avoid any appearance of unilateral action.81
- In a memorandum of June 1, the actual day of this conversation, the Secretary wrote that Ambassador Gromyko “said he understood and would bring the matter to the attention of his Government in the most helpful manner possible.” (701.6111/1251) Formal notification of the Ambassador’s departure was sent in a note of June 9.↩