144. Editorial Note
On March 3, 1962, Chairman Khrushchev sent President Kennedy a long message on disarmament, which in turn was a reply to Kennedy’s February 25 message to him (see footnote 4, Document 133). For text of Khrushchev’s March 3 message, see volume VI, Document 38, or Documents on Disarmament, 1962, volume I, pages 75-81. On March 5, the President replied as follows:
“I have received your message of March 3, and I am glad to know of your agreement that the meeting in Geneva on March 14 should be opened by Foreign Ministers. I am particularly glad that Mr. Gromyko will be able to join with Lord Home and Secretary Rusk before the meeting for preliminary discussions; our hope is that these conversations might begin on March 12. It will be the purpose of the representatives of the United States, headed by Secretary Rusk, to make every possible effort to find paths toward disarmament.
“Our object now must be to make real progress toward disarmament, and not to engage in sterile exchanges of propaganda. In that spirit, I shall not undertake at this time to comment on the many sentiments in your letter with which, as I am sure you know, the United States Government cannot agree. Let us, instead, join in giving our close personal [Page 358] support and direction to the work of our representatives, and let us join in working for their success.”
This message, drafted by Vincent Baker (ACDA/IR) and cleared by Kohler, Foster, Spiers, Bundy, and Secretary Rusk, was transmitted to the Embassy in Moscow, with instructions to deliver this reply to Khrushchev’s March 3 letter. (Telegram 2037 to Moscow, March 5; Department of State, Central Files, 600.0012/3-562) The letter is also printed in volume VI, Document 39.
Secretary Rusk was in Geneva March 10-27 for the meeting of the Eighteen-Nation Disarmament Committee.