Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XIV, Soviet Union

100. Telegram From the Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Department of State ¹

Moscow, March 4, 1965, 10 p.m.

2595. I opened meeting with Gromyko by telling him we at Embassy had just taken another beating at Soviet Govt’s hands. I then handed him protest letter (Embtel 2592). In response Gromyko read and handed me statement of regret (Embtel 2594).²

I expressed appreciation for statement but said I must repeat that Sov measures today were inadequate despite advance notice to MFA; that 175 windows broken and damage worse than in last demonstration. Reminded Gromyko that these demonstrations do not happen by themselves in USSR and US Govt will take serious view. Gromyko did not contest.

Gromyko then said he wished to make oral statement by Sov Govt then read statement re Vietnam (next following tel).³

In reply to my question Gromyko said statement will be published tomorrow morning.

I asked if Gromyko considers statement responsive to Secretary’s March 2 meeting with Dobrynin. He replied that it is not reply but reaction of Sov Govt to latest US actions against DRV.⁴

I then asked why Sovs therefore included reference to Laos and Cambodia. Gromyko said because that is factual situation, that gross US interference in Laos testified to by latest USAF attacks taking place there. Re Cambodia he referred to statements by Cambodian Govt.

I then said I would forward statement to my govt but that this indicated in no way that I accept allegations and I trusted Sovs will not imply otherwise. I went on to say that Secretary has given Dobrynin true facts re situation in Vietnam, which also contained in US document just issued and of which I offered him copies.⁵ I would like to see Sovs give true facts to their people as to who is aggressor in Vietnam.

Gromyko said he rejects US claim categorically, that facts re US aggression are irrefutable.

I pointed out that states have right of defense against aggression, and repeated that I did not accept Sov allegations. I added that US had hoped USSR would use its influence to stop aggression by DRV.

Conversation closed with expressions of regret that our relations affected by such unpleasant things.

Kohler

1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 23–8 USSR. Confidential; Immediate. Repeated to London, Paris, Saigon, and Hong Kong. Passed to the White House.
2. Both telegrams dated March 4. (Ibid.)
3. Telegram 2596 from Moscow, March 4. (Ibid., POL 27 VIET S)
4. In telegram 2598 from Moscow, March 4, Kohler cited “Gromyko’s almost flat admission, in reply to my question, Soviet ‘Declaration’ handed me tonight was propaganda piece and not considered reply Secretary’s statements to Dobrynin.” (Ibid., POL 3–8 USSR) For a memorandum of Rusk’s conversation with Dobrynin on March 2, see Foreign Relations, 1964–1968, vol. XXVIII, Document 170.
5. A reference to Aggression From the North: The Record of Viet-Nam’s Campaign to Conquer South Viet-Nam, released on February 27. For text, see Department of State Bulletin, March 22, 1965, pp. 404–427. For more information on the report, see Foreign Relations, 1964–1968, vol. II, Document 171.