Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Eastern Europe; Soviet Union; Eastern Mediterranean, Volume VIII

611.61/5–2252: Telegram

No. 501
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the Soviet Union¹

top secret
priority

Washington, May 22, 1952—8:09 p.m.

815. For the Amb. We agree desirability ur seeing Vyshinsky as proposed urtels 1861 and 1862 May 22.² We presume that you have considered advisability postponing approach to early next week in view possibility misinterpretation or Sov exploitation of mtg this weekend so close in advance scheduled signature ceremonies in Eur.³ However we will leave timing to your discretion.

We presume you do not intend use exact language contained ur 1861 with Vyshinsky. We feel important avoid giving him impression that we wld be committed to any action by developments which are subject of ur démarche or by fact of ur representations. Obviously we wld avoid implications of any threat or ultimatum which could be exploited.

Pls report niact paraphrase substance conversation. If press reports fact ur mtg we will say visit first substantive talk with Vyshinsky since presentation ur credentials and conversation in line purposes you expressed in statement to Shvernik.⁴

Acheson

1. Drafted by Barbour (EUR/EE); cleared in substance with Secretary Acheson, Matthews (G), Bohlen (C), and Bonbright (EUR); and signed by Barbour for the Secretary. Copies were transmitted by Matthews to Lovett, Bradley, and Smith on May 23.
2. Telegram 1862, supra; telegram 1861 is Document 499.
3. Reference is presumably to formal signature ceremonies in Bonn on May 26 by the Foreign Ministers of the United States, the United Kingdom, and France and the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany of the Contractual Agreements with the Federal Republic. See vol. vii, Part 1, pp. 109 ff.
4. See Document 498.