Office of the Historian

293.1111/12–1951: Telegram

The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Cumming) to the Secretary of State

secret
Moscow, December 19, 1951—3 p. m.

1050. Re mytel 1021, December 14.1 This afternoon gave Gromyko aide-mémoire re treatment Amers by Chi Commie authorities (Deptel 410, Dec 13). Gromyko said he could add nothing to what had been previously said by Vyshinsky; Sov Govt had no responsibility for US citizens in Chi; matter was solely one between US and Chi Peoples Govt; latter sitn not changed by fact US had no diplomatic rels Peking. With somewhat grimly humorous smile he added that as regards the Amer who was said to have died in prison “people could die in their beds or anywhere else”. I commented that death in bed was normal; death in prison was not.

Cumming
  1. The reference telegram stated that Gumming saw no objection to taking up with Gromyko the question of the treatment of Americans by the Chinese Communists (293.1111/12–1251).↩