Office of the Historian

192. Telegram From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State1

New York, October 4, 1966, 0151Z.

1214. For Secretary and Sisco. Goldberg conversation with Gromyko.

1.

I called on Gromyko Oct 3 at Sov Mission in accordance arrangements in reftel.2 Gromyko opened discussion by stating he had been told of my desire call on him and said he interested to exchange views but asked me to begin. I replied that I had been informed of his interest in conversation with me.

[Here follows discussion concerning a possible treaty on outer space, Vietnam, and nonproliferation.]

5.
I then brought up question of Chinese representation stating that in recent review US policy on this matter, I had been interested to note that impact of any possible shift in US posture on US–USSR relations had received little stress. I said that perhaps, in light of recent events in China and extraordinary phenomenon of Red Guards, this consideration perhaps should figure more importantly in our assessment adding that, in a personal way, I had explored this question with friends and brought it to attention of Prime Minister Pearson of Canada in recent conversation with him. Gromyko appeared taken aback by my launching of ChiRep question, and said that he could only repeat long-held SOV view that rightful occupant Chinese seat in UN was PRC. He inquired immediately whether stress on US–SOV aspect of ChiRep study was personal one on my part and I confirmed that it was. He also expressed some surprise at my frank statement that domestic public opinion which recent Gallup Poll had shown 59 percent in favor “two Chinas” policy no longer important consideration in US assessment of ChiRep matter. I added, of course, that this only one consideration anyway and decision had to be taken in context world events. He then expressed in what appeared to be somewhat confused manner SOV puzzlement over recent events in Communist China stating that they not fully informed about them or sure of their meaning. Admitted that their result was lack of satisfactory relations with PRC but observed that this should be seen against background of common basic ideology and not assessed in same way as unsatisfactory relations between states of differing ideologies. (This statement made in uncharacteristically halting and uncertain manner.)

[Here follows discussion of a possible treaty on outer space.]

Goldberg
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 7 USSR. Secret; Priority; Exdis. Repeated to Moscow and the White House.↩
  2. Not identified.↩