255. Telegram From the Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Department of State0
1023. Policy. At invitation Acting FonMin Kuznetzov, I and four Embassy officers had lunch at Spiridonovka with Kozlov and MFA officers present. Presumably invitation motivated in part by Soviet wish facilitate my establishing contact with Kozlov, since his only government position is that of Supreme Soviet Presidium member. For Soviet side, he dominated conversation.
During luncheon, discussion was rather general with frequent references on Kozlovʼs part to impressions he had gained in 1959 visit to United States including repeated references to US-USSR as two great powers which will decide fate of world.
Conversation after luncheon in which Kuznetzov, Smirnovsky and DCM participated included discussion of Berlin, disarmament, and nuclear-test cessation. In response my direct question why much-vaunted “coexistence” theory of Soviet Union is not applicable to Berlin, Kozlov, with assistant Kuznetzov, largely re-hashed old arguments about necessity of recognizing changed conditions, that post World War II agreements have outlived usefulness, that neither Soviet Union not Ulbricht [Page 542] threatens West Berliners, etc. Kozlov said that “speaking personally” (phrase which he used recurrently during conversation) Berlin was a relatively minor difficulty between our countries, that we should focus on the basic problem of disarmament and first of all cessation of nuclear tests. He pointed out that if resolution of these problems could be obtained, Berlin problem would have disappeared.
After expounding on the “most important problem” of disarmament, he quickly shifted into need for early resolution problem of cessation of nuclear tests. He graphically described effect on whole world of continuation of large-scale tests in atmosphere, under-water, and in cosmos, which he described as being 99.99 percent of the problem. Only subsequently, and with some prompting from Kuznetzov, did he get into the question of a moratorium on underground tests as part of the package of agreement on cessation of tests in other three atmospheres. Continued discussion of this question with his heavy emphasis on atmospheric, cosmic and underwater testing, with but slight reference to and in fact deprecating dangers of underground testing, left clear implication that as far as Kozlov concerned an agreement could be reached with something less than formal agreed moratorium on underground tests.
Throughout three-hour meeting Kozlov gave impression of great self-confidence and vigorous good health. At one point he referred to himself as the “political deputy” of Khrushchev. Foreign Ministry representatives, whom he inclined jokingly to deprecate, seemed somewhat ill at ease in his presence and somewhat concerned that he might fail to expound government line in questions discussed without deviation.1
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.61/10-2062. Secret; Priority.↩
- Airgram A-720, November 20, elaborated on the summary transmitted here, providing specifics on the interaction of the Soviet officials, and concluding that “the atmosphere of the luncheon, while formal, was relaxed, primarily owing to the unbuttoned manner in which Kozlov conducted himself.” (Ibid., 611.61/11-2062)↩