213. Harriman’s Personal Notes on Meeting with Gromyko, July 251
After an hour and a half of private discussion, Harriman took an intermission and called for the US Delegation to assemble.
He then read over what he said was the oral understanding which Gromyko was willing to give him, but saying it was clear that the Soviets were unwilling to agree that an exchange of letters or memoranda would be helpful.
There was then discussion among Harriman, Fisher and McNaughton about the words in which the understanding should be explained.
Harriman returned to the restricted meeting with Fisher. After some 20 to 30 minutes of further discussion, the general meeting resumed. Harriman stated that he, Mr. Gromyko and Lord Hailsham had arrived at an understanding of the interpretation of Article II, but he would have to go back to Washington to get authority to accept, and therefore would suggest that we meet again tomorrow at the usual time and issue the usual communiqué.
While the restricted meeting was resumed, Kaysen suggested to Kohler that it would be desirable to call Washington and get authority immediately to accept an oral understanding. He suggested that the Embassy be alerted and begin to make arrangements for the call. Kohler [Typeset Page 615] agreed that this would be a good move if of course Harriman was ready to take it, and pointed out that the call could probably be made faster from where we were—Spiridonovka Palace.
He left the room, sought out one of the Soviet officials, and arranged for the call to be made, should we want it.
As Harriman finished speaking, Kaysen suggested to him that we make a call to Washington and that the Soviets were ready to place the call for us from Spiridonovka. [Facsimile Page 2] There was a brief interchange, and Harriman agreed.
At 7:00 pm, Harriman, Akalovsky and Kaysen went to an office in which an interpreter was placing the call. Harriman sent Kaysen back for Hailsham, saying he wanted Hailsham standing by to testify to the understanding, if this appeared desirable. When Hailsham appeared, Hailsham, Harriman and Kaysen agreed on language expressing the substance of the Gromyko/Harriman understanding.
At first, Kaysen in placing the call asked for Bundy. On the first try, the New York operator reported that there was no such person. On the second try, Kaysen merely asked for the White House switchboard and succeeded in getting the White House operator. The following exchange then took place:
“Mr. Bundy’s office.”
“Alice? Is Mr. Bundy there? It’s Mr. Kaysen.”
“Why, no—he’s in the Situation Room with the President.”
“Well, Alice, see if you can get him out.”
Mr. Bromley Smith then came on the line and repeated what Bundy’s secretary had said, pointing out that the President was talking to the Prime Minister on the telephone.
At Kaysen’s urging, he got Bundy on the phone. Bundy, on hearing a brief explanation, went back and apparently asked the President to interrupt his telephone call for the news from Moscow. Kaysen then read Bundy the substance of the oral understanding as agreed by Hailsham and Harriman. Kaysen read this to Bundy twice.
Bundy left the phone again, and returned, saying, “Okay—when will you initial it?” Kaysen responded, “Arrangements will be the same.” Bundy again consulted the President and [Facsimile Page 3] asked what time the embargoed text and communiqué would be available for distribution to the press in Moscow. After Kaysen’s response, Bundy said the President would want to see Harriman at Hyannisport on Sunday, and Kaysen invited himself to the meeting.
Bundy closed the conversation by saying, “Great—good luck!”
We then went back to the meeting room. Harriman asked Gromyko, “Where are the copies of the Treaty we are to initial?”
[Typeset Page 616](NOTE: Above read and OK’d by Harriman, but he added last paragraph—hbs.)
- Oral understanding with Gromyko, telephone call to White House, U.S. ready to initial. Secret. 3 pp. Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Harriman Papers, Test Ban 12, Post-Trip.↩