282. Editorial Note
During a conversation with Chairman Khrushchev in Moscow on April 26, 1963, Under Secretary Harriman raised the test ban issue:
“In response to Khrushchev’s request for Harriman’s ‘advice,’ the Governor suggested that the USSR come to an agreement on a nuclear test ban. This would enable them to devote more of their resources to civilian production. He assured Mr. Khrushchev that the President wanted this very much.” Khrushchev responded that the President could expect an answer in the near future.
Later in the conversation, “Harriman said that since the Soviets were satisfied with the current situation in Berlin, why do they not wish to get on with other important ‘things such as a test ban agreement? Khrushchev replied: ‘We’ll sign one right away, but, with no espionage inspections, ever.’
“Harriman said he wished to raise one aspect of nuclear proliferation which concerned him and, he assumed, was of concern to Chairman Khrushchev. He said Khrushchev had expressed his worry about the Germans. Why hadn’t he said anything about the Chinese and the possibility that they may have nuclear weapons in the near future. Khrushchev suggested Harriman take that up with the Chinese. The Soviets and the United States could talk about Germany because we were mutual victors in the war against Germany, but China was one of the Soviet’s allies and Harriman should treat them as equals. Harriman said he had personally wanted to go to talk with the Chinese a few years ago but that Mikoyan would not cooperate. Khrushchev replied that Mikoyan was not the Foreign Minister of China and could not get Harriman into China.” (Department of State, Central Files, DEF 18-8)
The full text of this memorandum of conversation, which also concerned Berlin, is printed in volume XV, pages 510–511. The memorandum of conversation on Laos is printed in volume XXIV, pages 1000–1005. Harriman was in Moscow to discuss Laos with Khrushchev.
In an April 29 letter to Kennedy, Macmillan stated that he gathered from a conversation with Harriman, who stopped in London on his return to Washington, that “Khrushchev was in a friendly mood with Averell.” Macmillan supposed that nothing could be done on a test ban pending Khrushchev’s reply to the April 15 letter, but thought “that he does not want to continue tests, either in the air or underground, although no doubt his soldiers and scientists, like all experts, would prefer to go on. But he does not want to have what he calls espionage inspections. On this point I do not think that if we get into serious discussion we can maintain the elaborate type of inspection which some of our people have envisaged.” (Text in telegram 5749 to London, May 1; Department of State, Central Files, POL 7 US/Harriman)