351. Memorandum for the Files0
The President called me [Thompson] to ask my view as to the purpose of the Dobrynin visit.1 I said they appeared to be looking for an agreement on most anything. He asked if the purpose might be to cause us trouble with our Allies. I said that this was probably a factor but did not appear to be a major one since they appear to be backing away from the nonaggression pact as being an absolute requirement as the next step. It appeared to me they would be happy with an agreement on Civil Aviation and probably ban on weapons in outer space.
The President inquired whether we should inform the Germans, and I said I had already had a request from von Lilienfeld2 for an appointment, and he came in at 3:00 p.m. I gave him a brief run-down, saying there was nothing new, it had merely been a repetition of old positions.
The President asked whether we should give them a copy of the Khrushchev letter, and I suggested that this not be done.
The President called attention to the story in this eveningʼs Star which states that the President will meet with Gromyko when he arrives to attend the GA. I said this obviously must have come from Dobrynin, and the President thought perhaps I should fill in the Parea as to what really happened, that is that the President stated if Gromyko came to Washington, the President would be glad to see him.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL US-USSR. Secret. The source text bears no drafting information.↩
- See Document 350.↩
- Georg von Lilienfeld, West German Minister in the United States.↩