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

641.61/5–2353: Telegram

No. 597
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Bohlen) to the Department of State¹

top secret
priority

Moscow, May 23, 1953—5 p.m.

1623. British Ambassador² accompanied Wilson on his call on Molotov Thursday (Embtel 1603, repeated London 210³) and has given me in strict confidence following account of interview.

In agreement with Wilson Ambassador stressed the unofficial nature of his visit to Soviet Union to which Molotov said that that was the understanding of Soviet Government. Wilson then endeavored to ascertain Soviet reaction to the chief outstanding political questions but was unable to obtain from Molotov anything but non-committal answers or standard Soviet positions. Wilson told Molotov Churchill’s speech⁴ had solid bipartisan support in Great Britain and inquired what the reaction of Soviet Government had been to it. Molotov merely stated that the Soviet Government “and people” had found it very interesting.

On Germany Molotov said that fidelity to past agreements would greatly facilitate solutions. He gave no particular reaction to Wilson’s questions on Austria, Korea or the Far East in general except when Wilson mentioned that there were some people who felt that Soviet Union controlled and had even instigated Communist offensive in Laos. Molotov immediately stated that there were many people who believed “crazy things”.

With the exception of a reference to Labor Party views that politicians rather than generals should be conducting the Korean negotiations and that many British do not agree with US Chinese policy (to which Molotov in neither case made any reply whatsoever). In general Wilson, according to Ambassador, handled himself well in the interview.

Wilson had a five-hour dinner with Mikoyan from which nothing in particular emerged except that Mikoyan repeated in almost identical words the Soviet opposition to the release of the one Soviet wife living at British Embassy.

Ambassador told me that his government is particularly anxious that no publicity should be given to any connection between the Sanders’ case⁵ and Wilson’s visit to Hungary. But Embassy here believes that before very long Sanders will be released, possibly as result of Wilson’s discussions. Although the Ambassador faithfully carried out the instructions received to assist Wilson in every way here, he is not pleased with practice of “unofficial” visitors coming to Moscow and discussing current matters with Soviet Government as Wilson has done.

I hope the foregoing information will be kept confidential and its source carefully protected.

Bohlen

1. Repeated for information to London.
2. Sir Alvary Gascoigne.
3. Not printed. (441.61/5–1853)
4. See Document 595.
5. Edgar Sanders, a British citizen arrested in 1949 in Hungary for alleged sabotage and espionage. Tried, convicted, and sentenced to imprisonment in February 1950, Sanders was finally released and returned to the United Kingdom in August 1953. Telegram 999 from Budapest, May 24, reported that Wilson visited Budapest on May 22 to urge Sanders’ release. (641.64/5–2453)