Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, Central and Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume IV

663.001/1–1950: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Kirk) to the Secretary of State

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Moscow, January 19, 1950—3 p. m.

186. Mytel 162, January 18.¹ My colleagues and I saw Mr. Gromyko² this evening. Conversation lasted 50 minutes, despite repeated offers [efforts?] by Gromyko to cut it short. He evidently had instructions not to be drawn into discussion at all but we subjected him to intensive cross-examination and gave him every opportunity to make some constructive offer. At conclusion, in reply to a specific question, he said that, even if we had been able to see Vyshinsky,³ latter would not have been able to tell us more than he himself had said. I will send a full account of our conversation as soon as possible.⁴ Salient points (most of them repeated and emphasized several times) may be summarized as follows:

2. After reading of agreed communication by my French colleague, Gromyko said he would study our memorandum.⁵ Meanwhile, Articles 16 and 27 could be dealt with in London.

3. We replied that we were willing to deal with all outstanding articles provided that they were all open for discussion. But discussion of Article 48 (bis) had been withdrawn by Soviet deputy from scope of discussions in London, and Articles 42 and 48⁶ had been linked with it. What assurances could Gromyko give regarding settlement of Article 48 (bis)?

4. Gromyko replied that this question was still under examination and that he could not say anything about it. But he could see no reason why other outstanding articles should not be dealt with. We said that all outstanding articles had already been discussed individually; the question now was to settle them, and this involved discussion of all of them, without making exceptions for articles which according to Soviet Government must await results of separate negotiations in Vienna outside the four-power framework. We repeatedly stressed that discussion of 48 bis could not be excluded from discussion of other outstanding articles.

5. Gromyko said that the Austrian proposals were still under consideration, and that we would certainly be informed when results had been achieved. We asked whether Gromyko could give us any information about the talks in Vienna or indicate a date for their termination and whether Soviet Government really desired to proceed with the negotiations in London. Gromyko replied that he could say nothing about the Vienna discussions, since the Austrian proposals were still under examination; as regards negotiations in London he merely said that Mr. Zarubin was after all still there. Asked if Soviet government would agree to expedite the negotiations in Vienna, Gromyko replied that he could give no assurances until examination of the Austrian proposals had been completed.

6. Although Gromyko was illogical and inconsistent throughout, he made it clear that: (a) final settlement must await agreement in Vienna on claims covered in Article 48 (bis); (b) he flatly refused any information about progress of Vienna talks; (c) he could give no time limit for conclusion of these talks, declined to give any information about their progress and refused to give any assurances that Soviet Government would expedite them; (d) meanwhile he considers that Articles 16 and 27 should continue to be negotiated in London.

7. Despite purely negative attitude. Gromyko was not disagreeable.

8. My colleagues are telegraphing identically to London and Paris. British Foreign Office will transmit copy to AuDel and British Legation Vienna to US Legislation. Department please pass to British and French Embassies Washington.

Kirk

1. Not printed.
2. Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey A. Gromyko.
3. Initially it had been decided that the Western Ambassadors would seek an interview with Vyshinsky, but when he was reported sick, they agreed to see Gromyko.
4. Telegram 197, January 19 (6 p. m.), from Moscow, not printed (663.001/1–1950).
5. The agreed communication under reference here is that referred to in footnote 5, p. 434. The memorandum, transmitted in telegram 156 (Delau 387), January 11, from London, not printed, reviewed the progress of the treaty talks at the end of 1949 and the assurances by the Soviet Government concerning their speedy conclusion. (663.001/1–1150)
6. Article 48, Payment of Prewar Austrian Debts.