28. Telegram From Secretary of State Rusk to the Mission at Berlin0
21. Eyes only Acting Secretary. Eyes only for Clay from Secretary. Before leaving Geneva, I wanted you to know that, although our talks with Soviets will continue, we made no real headway towards any substantive agreement on Berlin which we could accept. As indicated in the joint American-Soviet statement issued this morning,1 it is fair to say that some progress was made in clarifying points of agreement and points of difference, but points of difference remain fundamental.
I did obtain impression, however, that Soviets do not wish to have confrontation now and desire to maintain contact with us on Berlin. Whether this is consistent with continuing harassments in air corridors and on ground access routes is an obviously related question. I have this morning emphasized to Gromyko that increased Soviet air corridor activity today is inconsistent with spirit of our joint statement and that we cannot help but draw judgments not only from what Soviets say about desiring peaceful solution but also from what they do.2
[Page 93]I have not tried to comment specifically from Geneva on your recent messages making recommendations to Dept and USAREUR. However, in a related matter, I have today urged strongly on Lord Home desirability of our instituting certain naval counter measures in response to Soviet harassments of Berlin access. I shall now be reporting to President and, after consultation with our Allies, we shall then have to give thought to next diplomatic round. I am glad that, in meantime, from all evidence Berlin morale and elan remain good though subjected to strains and doubts of which you have made us aware.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 762.00/3–2762. Secret. Also sent to the Department of State as Secto 116, which is the source text.↩
- For text of this statement, see American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1962, p. 691.↩
- No other record of this conversation with Gromyko has been found.↩