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

611.61/11–854: Telegram

No. 630
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Bohlen) to the Department of State

secret
priority

Moscow, November 8, 1954—2 p.m.

720. Last night’s reception¹ passed off without any particular incidents but developed a number of interesting features. This year Molotov repeated his performance of having a selected group of Chiefs-of-Mission sit at his table at which this time the entire Presidium with exception of Voroshilov, who did not attend reception, were seated. In addition to three Western Ambassadors, he had Burmese, Indian, Indonesian, Chinese and Pole.

After series of general toasts to guests and to peace Molotov began toasting Ambassadors individually. Toast to British Ambassador² contained nothing special and latter in reply drank to health of city of Moscow. In proposing health of French Ambassador³ Molotov said that he had the pleasantest of memories of city of Paris but he could not say the same for Paris agreements.⁴ French Ambassador replied that he was here in Moscow to explain anything that bothered Molotov regarding the Paris agreements and made some reference to development of cultural relations between the two countries. When my turn came, Molotov stated that “American and Soviet diplomats had great responsibility for working towards and improvement of relations and mutual understanding between the two Countries.” In reply I said that since cities had been mentioned—Moscow and Paris—I would like to mention Washington and I recalled that Mr. Molotov had visited Washington in past, particularly once during war in 1942, when he had traveled under name of Mr. Brown. I drank Molotov’s health as the most experienced diplomat in the room and, since no one could disagree with his statement concerning function of diplomats, to the next time he would visit Washington to that end.

The Soviet toasts, as might be expected, dealt again heavily with theme of peace and “friendship among the nations” to which all the neutralist Asians responded in glowing terms concerning Soviet Union, October Revolution and Soviet policy of peace. The Indonesian Ambassador⁵ even went so far as to state that the October Revolution and subsequent progress in Soviet Union had been a great inspiration for peoples of Asia.

As last year, these toasts took place before a large crowd (including all correspondents) which pressed around table. I found opportunity after leaving table to make certain that press, in general noise and confusion, had obtained an accurate account of my toast.

Congressman Wickersham,⁶ who had been successful by his own efforts in obtaining invitation from Intourist, was present and at one time or other apparently succeeded in meeting all the Soviet leaders. I was near him when he spoke to Mikoyan and he kept assuring him of desire of American people to live in peace and friendship with Soviet Union, a sentiment which I gather he repeated throughout evening.

The most interesting part of the evening came as table broke up. In going to say good-bye to Soviet officials at table, British Ambassador and I were almost literally buttonholed by Malenkov who held us in conversation for well over half-hour. While nothing startling emerged, it was nonetheless of considerable interest. I will report this conversation in detail in immediately following telegram. We were besieged by press after Malenkov left but I merely stated that no official business was transacted.

Bohlen

1. An official Soviet reception held at the Kremlin as part of the celebration of the anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution.
2. Sir William Hayter.
3. Louis Joxe.
4. Reference is presumably to Nine-Power meetings at Paris, Oct. 20–23, and the agreements resulting therefrom; for documentation on those meetings, see vol. V, Part 2, pp. 1404 ff.
5. Dr. Subandrio.
6. See telegram 725, infra.