273. Editorial Note
On December 15, 1962, Pravda published a lengthy article on the espionage activities of Colonel Oleg V. Penkovsky, in which four officials at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow were implicated. In commenting on the article the Embassy reported that such a “broadside public attack” was “unprecedented in recent times,” speculated on the motivation for it, noted that the capacity of the Embassy to function normally could not fail to be affected, and asked the Department of State to consider a formal protest to forestall the further exacerbation of the situation. (Telegram [Page 596] 1516 from Moscow, December 15; Department of State, Central Files, 121.613/12-1562) The Department of State replied the same day advising against a protest and leaving to the Embassy the final decision on whether the U.S. officials should leave the Soviet Union. (Telegrams 1285 and 1287 to Moscow, December 15; ibid.)
On December 25 the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked the Acting Deputy Chief of Mission to come in at 3 p.m., but shortly before that time called back to postpone the meeting for a day because it was Christmas. (Telegram 1580 from Moscow, December 25; ibid., 121.613/12-2562) On December 26 Mikhail N. Smirnovsky, Head of the American Division of the Foreign Ministry, referred to the article (and others) in the Soviet press and stated that the Ministry expected the Embassy to take immediate measures for the strict observance by its employees of the norms of diplomatic conduct. The Acting Deputy Chief of Mission replied that the United States rejected all the charges as unfounded and stated that the Soviet press seemed to be carrying on an anti-American campaign that was incompatible with high-ranking assurances to Ambassador Kohler that the Soviet Union wanted to increase understanding between the two countries. (Telegram 1582 from Moscow, December 26; ibid., 121.613/12-2662)