62. Telegram From the Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Department of State1
837. Yesterday at Afghan reception in reply to my direct question Khrushchev confirmed that Central Committee meeting had been “postponed” until end of November or beginning December, probably latter. He gave explanation preoccupation leading party workers with harvest, state visits scheduled for October and November 6 holiday.
On domestic matters Khrushchev expressed himself as extremely “pleased” with record harvest and said that agricultural results this year had been outstanding in all fields, including corn. He denounced as nonsense reports in foreign press of any major domestic problems, and said “Our affairs here are going very well (pomaslu)”.
Khrushchev said it seems difficult for foreigners to understand that with restoration “democracy” in party individuals had right to express their own view and that frequently these views differ but did not represent real divisions in leadership.
Comment: While Khrushchev’s remarks absence serious dissension could not in themselves be taken at face value, they were made naturally and not defensively. While these men are of course excellent actors, there was nothing in appearance either Khrushchev, Bulganin, Mikoyan or Zhukov, who were present, to indicate any [Page 139] element of strain. On the contrary, they all appeared relaxed and at ease.
In reply to my question if all members leadership had taken their vacation, Khrushchev replied to the negative saying Malenkov and Pervukhin were going on their holiday now and that Molotov and Voroshilov “whom we insist take two months”, were still in the Crimea.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 761.00/10–1656. Confidential. Repeated to London, Paris, and Belgrade.↩