120. Editorial Note
In telegram 1691 to Paris, September 22, 1961, the Department of State reported that in a 3-hour discussion the previous day Soviet Foreign Minister Gromyko and Secretary of State Rusk had laid out their respective positions on Berlin. “Gromykoʼs presentation did not deviate from standard version of main Soviet themes as developed at Vienna and thereafter.” Rusk stressed that the “current Berlin crisis was essentially of Soviet creation” and that changes in status quo desired by the Soviets “would move against vital interests and fundamental commitments of US.” For text, see Foreign Relations, 1961–1963, volume XIV, pages 431–433.
On September 29 Chairman Khrushchev wrote President Kennedy the first in a series of letters, delivered through special emissaries and closely held, that later became known as the “Pen Pal Correspondence.” Khrushchev repeated standard Soviet positions on Berlin and Germany but suggested Kennedy either send a special emissary to Moscow to discuss Berlin or authorize Ambassador Thompson to do so. For text, see ibid., volume VI, pages 25–38.