Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume V, Soviet Union

380. Memorandum of Conversation⁰

Washington, November 26, 1963, 11:35 a.m.

PARTICIPANTS

• US
  • The President
  • Under Secretary Harriman
  • Ambassador Thompson
  • Mr. Tyler—EUR
  • Mr. Bundy—The White House
  • Mr. Akalovsky—ACDA/IR
• USSR
  • Mr. Mikoyan
  • Ambassador Dobrynin
  • Mr. Smirnovski, Chief of the American Section, Foreign Ministry
  • Mr. Sukhodrev

SUBJECT

• Call by Mr. Mikoyan on the President

During a brief exchange of amenities while pictures were being taken, the President handed Mr. Mikoyan a personal message for Mr. Khrushchev in response to the latterʼs published letter.¹

Mr. Mikoyan opened the conversation by saying that before leaving Moscow Mr. Khrushchev and he had talked about Mr. Khrushchevʼs meeting with the President, then a Senator, at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during Mr. Khrushchevʼs visit to the US in 1959. Mr. Khrushchev recalled that the President had asked him some questions at that meeting and that the President and Senator Fulbright had seen him to his car when he was leaving. The President had then told him, with a touch of American humor, that he should become a US Senator and that he would make an outstanding one. Mr. Khrushchev had replied that each of them should work in his own parliament and fight for peace. Mr. Mikoyan continued that he remembered the press reporting at that time that in Mr. Kennedyʼs view the meeting with the Foreign Relations Committee had gone well and that Mr. Khrushchev was a strong man who was well able to defend his point of view. Thus, even at that time there had been some contact and a beginning of mutual understanding between the President and Mr. Khrushchev. As he had said earlier, Mr. Khrushchev and he had talked about this before his departure from Moscow.

Mr. Mikoyan then said that on the basis of his own meetings in Moscow he thought contacts could be maintained and mutual understanding brought about.

The President responded that the leaders of our two countries would be a failure in the history of the world if they were unable to find an answer to how the two sides could live together peacefully and beneficially in the world. This was the big challenge of our times. President Kennedy and Mr. Khrushchev had seemed to be making, with their respective leaders, some advances in that direction. The only really important thing was what was the answer and how we could do it, because if we could find an answer, the world would be indeed a much better place to live. The United States was earnestly seeking friendship and cooperation with all nations of the world. The United States did not seek hostility with anyone; it courted no territory and was not seeking domination of any people. The President went on to say that President Kennedyʼs foremost thought every day had been what steps could be taken on that particular day to bring about a better understanding between the peoples of the world. The President said this policy had been fully embraced by him and would be respected and continued. The United States would meet anyone more than half way.

The President then noted that the United States was not planning to invade Cuba, but that the Cuban problem was a very serious one with our people. He hoped that as days came and went we would be able to find a solution there which would make it possible to lead our peoples further towards peace and understanding. Actions already taken had gone part of the way and some lessening of tension had taken place. We had a number of problems at home which were quite troublesome, and if there was any indication at any time that we could in some way bring about better understanding and better relations we would go our part of the way. We were dedicated to our system and intended to preserve it, but this did not mean that we wanted it to dominate or enslave any other people.

Mr. Mikoyan said he was happy to hear these words uttered by the new President of the United States. The Presidentʼs desire to live in peace and friendship with the USSR and with other nations was in full accord with the views of the Soviet Union.

The President stated that there would be no change in the Kennedy policy. We were very happy that Congress had shown evidences of approving negotiations and exchanges of views between President Kennedy and Mr. Khrushchev. This had offered us real encouragement not only in their attitude but also in our peopleʼs attitude. Our constant purpose, each day, would be to seek to travel the road of peace and to find solutions to many problems that engaged the two sides and to many differences existing between them.

The President continued that as an immediate comment he wished to say that the problem which was the biggest with our people was the result of the Castro-promoted subversion. This inevitably and invariably gave us strained relations. He hoped, however, that in future both sides would find that they had moved further to peace and had made gains greater than even those made by his predecessor and Mr. Khrushchev.

Mr. Mikoyan said he was very much gratified to hear this. However, there was only one point he wished to comment on, namely, the Presidentʼs remark concerning Cuban subversive activities. He said he could not understand how a small nation like Cuba could subvert anyone, let alone a big power. On the contrary, the whole world could see how small Cuba was being subverted by a number of various, well-financed organizations. The Soviet Union believed that all subversive activities should be ended everywhere. He asserted that he knew Cuba did not want to subvert anyone. In his conversation with Castro, the latter had told him that he wanted good relations with the United States. In his statement on the occasion of the tragedy falling upon the United States, Castro had shown himself as a great humanitarian as he had voiced deep regret about President Kennedyʼs death. Therefore, Mr. Mikoyan continued, he wished to ask the President not to accept the allegations which were sometimes mentioned in the press. He wanted the President to believe him that good relations with Cuba were in the interest of the United States.

The President responded that his intention had been simply to give an evaluation of the feelings of our people and of what gave them problems. He said he had spoken sincerely and earnestly about US intentions with respect to Cuba. We had no plans for invasion, and we believed that there was no justification for Cuba to invade others by subversion or otherwise. The President reiterated that what he was seeking now was merely to give Mr. Mikoyan an evaluation and expressed the hope that better understanding could flow from this.

The President then thanked Mr. Mikoyan for his coming to Washington to honor and to pay tribute to the late President by his presence. He said he looked forward to further meetings and exchanges of views of this kind and hoped that they would be fruitful.

Mr. Mikoyan concluded the conversation by noting that he knew the President was very busy today and that he did not wish to take any more of the Presidentʼs time. However, he wished to add just one comment of a personal nature, and note that he had turned 68 yesterday, while here in Washington. He said he trusted that further meetings would take place, including meetings with Mr. Khrushchev, and that those meetings would be fruitful.

The meeting ended at 12:30 p.m.

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL US-USSR. Secret. Drafted by Akalovsky and approved by S/AL on November 27 and by the White House on December 2. For a memorandum of another part of the conversation, see Document 381. The meeting was held at the White House.
1. Khrushchevʼs letter of condolence, November 24, and the Presidentʼs reply are in Foreign Relations, 1961–1963, vol. VI, pp. 311–313.