179. Telegram From the Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Department of State0
2094. Policy. Deptel 1771.1 At one-hour meeting this afternoon with Gromyko I made oral statement embodying points contained second para reftel, adding on personal basis that, while in Washington, I had expressed opinion that we might now make progress on problem of Germany/Berlin on basis mutual recognition each other’s interests. I trusted I would not be proved wrong.
[Page 493]Gromyko said he noted our favorable reply to question of continuation talks. With regard my supplementary remark, he said he wished to say that, in SovGovt’s opinion, if there were genuine desire on part USG and its Allies to reach agreement, then there would be basis for understanding. He said Soviet proposals, as put forward in exchange of views between US and USSR, are good basis for agreement. In supporting these proposals, Soviets did so not simply because they were their own proposals, but, and here he had in mind question of Western troops in West Berlin, because Soviets believe they correspond to interests of USSR, US, Britain, and France. He asked that USG assess these proposals objectively and without bias, and said that Soviet proposals, including those which had been put forward in conversations with and speeches of Chairman Khrushchev, are designed to facilitate agreement. He said he would report to Soviet Govt and to Khrushchev on US answer on resumption talks and we should evidently revert to this matter in near future. Reports of discussions of pipeline, communications, test-ban, Cuba, and Embassy building plans follow septels.2
Dept please repeat as desired.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL US–USSR. Secret; Priority; Eyes Only. Relayed to the White House.↩
- Document 177.↩
- All dated February 25, telegrams 2095 and 2096 (Department of State, Central Files, STR 12–3 USSR) and 2097–2099 (ibid., DEF 18–3, BG 6 Moscow, and POL 27–5 USSR, respectively).↩