140. Editorial Note
In telegram 1520 to Moscow, December 28, 1961, the Department of State instructed Ambassador Thompson to “engage in a series of discussions [on Berlin] with Mr. Gromyko with the object of finding out whether and in what area a basis for negotiations can be found.” In telegram 1840 to the Department of State, January 2, 1962, Thompson reported on the first in a series of meetings with Soviet Foreign Minister Gromyko on the issue. Gromyko expressed his belief that an agreement could be reached on Western access to West Berlin but only in the context of a broader agreement resolving other German and European security issues. For text of telegrams 1520 and 1840, see Foreign Relations, 1961–1963, volume XIV, pages 709–713 and 720–724.
In telegram 1651 to Moscow, January 10, the Department of State instructed Thompson to probe further on issues raised during his first meeting with Gromyko. The instructions noted, among other things, that if Gromyko pursued “broader questions,” Thompson should reply that “we have placed initial stress on Berlin access which we believe critical issue for reasons indicated. He [Gromyko] should understand, however, [Page 343] that what US would be prepared to say on other subjects will depend to great extent on reasonableness of Soviet position on Berlin access.” For text, see ibid., pages 736–740. In telegram 1932 to the Department of State, January 12, Thompson characterized his second meeting with Gromyko as completely negative. (Ibid., page 751, source note)