276. Editorial Note
On January 7, 1963, Representative to the United Nations Stevenson and Soviet First Deputy Foreign Minister Kuznetzov submitted a joint letter to United Nations Secretary-General U Thant that signaled the end [Page 600] of negotiations for a mutually agreeable resolution to the Cuban missile crisis. The letter stated in part: “While it has not been possible for our Governments to resolve all the problems that have arisen in connexion with this affair, they believe that, in view of the degree of understanding reached between them on the settlement of the crisis and the extent of progress in the implementation of this understanding, it is not necessary for this item to occupy further the attention of the Security Council at this time.” For text, see Foreign Relations, 1961–1963, volume XI, page 655. Two days later Kuznetsov met with President Kennedy in Washington. During a discussion that ranged over the crisis, its aftermath, and the future of U.S.-Soviet relations, Kennedy stressed his continuing concern over the Soviet military presence in Cuba. For text of the memorandum of conversation, see ibid., pages 658–662.