Office of the Historian

154. Memorandum From the Presidentʼs Press Secretary (Salinger) to President Kennedy0

Washington, February 14, 1962.

I met on February 13, 1962 with Georgi Bolshakov, Editor of USSR Magazine at his request. He made the following points:

(1)
Chairman Khrushchev had agreed to all the conditions discussed between myself and Mikhail Khalarmov in Paris.1 The only [Page 365] change requested was for a change of dates. Chairman Khrushchev has suggested the following dates to which I have tentatively agreed—
(a)
Exchange of draft statements on March 8 (through Georgi Bolshakov).
(b)
Announcement on March 15. I am to prepare a draft announcement and submit it to Khalarmov for approval.
(c)
Exchange of film on March 18. Film to be delivered to the American Embassy in Moscow; Soviet Embassy in Washington.
(d)
First showing at 8:00 p.m., Moscow time on March 25 and 12:00 noon,EST, March 25.
(2)
Bolshakov wanted to know if there was any further information on Mr. Robert F. Kennedyʼs intentions.
(3)
Chairman Khrushchev is very interested in the Washington-Moscow telephone set-up discussed in Paris. If the President is interested in this proposal, the Soviets would like to institute technical discussions on how to work it out.
(4)
In regard to the current cultural exchange negotiations,2 Mr. Bolshakov feels there are certain points which the Americans are being difficult about—
(a)
Re artistic troupes the exchange has been on the basis of one troupe for one troupe. Bolshakov says the Americans are imposing equality of pay for the troupes. The Soviets do not feel this is equitable. He points out that an exchange might involve the Moishev Ballet for the Benny Goodman band which are not comparable organizations. Further, he said travelling distances in the Soviet Union are much longer than in the United States; that the United States has much bigger halls. He suggested that the matter of payment be left to the impressarios.
(b)
Bolshakov said the Americans are insisting on the rights of American students to go to Russian research institutes. He said such institutes are not primarily educational institutions and that our government should understand the difference. They have no objection for some of our students attending some of these institutes but do not want it written into the contract of agreement.
(c)
There are 30 categories of technical exchanges. The United States is proposing one exchange in only two of the 30 categories; the Soviets are proposing 5 out of 15 categories. The Soviets feel that the base upon which the Americans are working is too narrow.

Mr. Bolshakov and I went on to discuss the recent articles in the New York Times by Harrison Salisbury. He said Salisburyʼs views on Soviet activity are governed by impressions gained when Salisbury covered the Stalin period. He said this is true of most American Soviet experts. He said the United States has to adjust to change in the Soviet Union and its thinking.

Pierre Salinger3
  1. Source: Department of State, Presidential Correspondence: Lot 77 D 163. Secret; Eyes Only; No Other Distribution. Also sent to Rusk and Murrow.↩
  2. See Document 151.↩
  3. See Document 168.↩
  4. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩