335. Editorial Note
Peter Peterson and Ambassador Dobrynin met on June 26, 1971. A handwritten note from Peterson to Kissinger regarding the meeting reads as follows: “June 29—I saw Dobrynin Saturday nite as I am sure Al Haig consulted with you. I decided to say nothing unless he said something. At the very end of the meeting on the way out, he grabbed me rather intensely and said ‘It is very important that you (Peterson) and I get together soon so this trade deal does not blow up because of something you and I do not do.’ I said you would be calling him today and he said ‘that’s fine, but it is still very important that you (Peterson) and I meet soon.’ I said nothing.” (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, President’s Trip Files, Box 491, Dobrynin/HAK 1971, Volume 6, Part 1)
The memorandum of Kissinger’s June 28 conversation with Dobrynin reads in part as follows: “I told Dobrynin that I would give [Page 854] him a preliminary reply to the Kama River Project on Wednesday evening, particularly the stages at which it could be accomplished. I told him there was no sense bringing public pressure on us and that we would appreciate it if this pressure would stop. We were moving as fast as possible.” The memorandum of conversation is attached to an undated memorandum from Kissinger to the President informing him of the meeting with Dobrynin. Regarding the Kama River project, Kissinger wrote: “I promised Dobrynin a reply on the Kama River Project in a couple of days and cautioned him not to try to pressure us.” (Ibid.)