21. Telegram 295 to Moscow, July 281
For McCloy from the Secretary. Note indication Moscow 308 your desire return to Washington soonest. Request your return for consultations departing Moscow if at all possible by evening July 29.
I have given careful consideration to the three broad courses of action mentioned in your message 305 in the light of our general situation vis-à-vis the USSR, Berlin, and our Allies at this time. I agree fully with your assessment that in the light of the latest Soviet move indicating willingness to discuss principles we cannot now abruptly terminate talks or propose an immediate move to a multilateral forum without further efforts to reach agreement upon principles. As to the time and venue for continuation of the discussions, however, I am inclined to favor, on balance, the second of the alternatives you suggest, namely a recess for further review by governments of the present situation and a proposal to continue the present discussions in New York in about 10 days.
A number of factors have influenced my thinking in reaching [Facsimile Page 2] this conclusion. One is the importance I attach to your very early return for a report to the President and to me on your discussions with Premier Khrushchev. I think that both public opinion around the world and indeed even the Soviet leadership itself would consider this reasonable. Since, as you indicate, our further efforts to reach agreement with the Soviets on a draft of principles are more likely than not to be unsuccessful, it would be unfortunate, I think, to terminate the talks there in your absence lest their failure be attributed in part to some alleged downgrading of the significance we attach to them as evidenced by our recalling you. I also consider it is particularly important at this time to proceed on the basis of exceptionally full allied consultations in this matter, and consider that a period of a week or ten days for this purpose would be highly useful in gaining their full understanding and support for the amendments or redraft of the US paper which we may wish to put to the Soviets in response to their latest move. I consider, too, that having conducted discussions in Washington and Moscow during June and July as previously agreed, a move of your discussions to New York looking toward follow-up action in the United Nations would be preferable to prolongation of discussions in Moscow over a period we cannot predict with complete accuracy if we embark [Typeset Page 100] upon this new phase of discussions there. My present thinking is that in the absence of agreement upon forum and principles we should move [Facsimile Page 3] to substantive discussion of our specific plan in the UNDC around August 29.
On basis these considerations, I suggest that you proceed along following lines:
1. You should propose on July 29 recess in talks on that date for further review by governments of present situation and propose that present discussions be resumed in New York on August 10. You should cite as one of reasons for recess that you are being recalled to Washington for consultation.
2. You should seek Soviet agreement on continuation of existing privacy arrangements as regards present discussions during recess, and should seek agreement upon joint communiqué of essentially procedural character.
3. You should make no statement at conclusion of talks or en route to Washington beyond announcement you are coming to report to the President and SECSTATE.
4. You should seek opportunity prior to conclusion of talks to make points suggested para 1 your message and to outline on basis existing instructions more obvious defects Sov draft. You should not, however, make commitment at this date to submit specific amendments to Sov draft, since we desire to consult Allies and since it may prove more desirable to redraft US paper to incorporate acceptable positions Sov draft and thus keep negotiations focused on US paper.
[Facsimile Page 4]5. In order avoid awkwardness of your meeting personally with NAC at time prior to report to President at which meeting you would be unable refer to your discussions with Khrushchev, request Fisher consult informally in Paris with NAC on course bilateral discussions to date.
- Disarmament talks: proposed recess. Confidential. 4 pp. Department of State, Central Files, 600.0012/7–2861.↩