No. 528
Editorial Note
On October 4, Senator William F. Knowland of California addressed a telegram to Secretary Acheson strongly urging that the Soviet Ambassador be declared persona non grata and that recognition of the Soviet Union be withdrawn by the United States Government. The actions would be in retaliation for the Soviet action taken against Ambassador Kennan (see Document 526) as well as the action of the Soviet Union in providing arms and equipment to the North Korean regime. In his reply of October 7, released to the press the following day, Secretary Acheson acknowledged receipt of Senator Knowland’s telegram, reiterated the substance of his statement to the press of October 3 (see Document 526), and observed that the breaking of diplomatic relations was a matter of utmost [Page 1056] seriousness with world-wide consequences and was a matter that would have to be carefully considered in connection with a great many factors. For texts of the exchange of messages between Senator Knowland and Secretary Acheson, see Department of State Bulletin, October 20, 1952, page 603.