LETTER TO ALBERT GORE FROM ALLEN W. DULLES

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02138894
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: September 12, 2023
• Document Release Date: June 30, 2023
• Case Number: F-2021-02184
• Publication Date: February 20, 1961

Approved for Release: 2023/05/11 CO2138894
*arable
United State
'Washington 25. D. C.
ER 61.-9884
Dear Senator Gore:
I am sincerely appreciative of the trouble you
took of writing me under date of February 3 with
regard to the interesting conversation which you had
had on February I, I have shared this letter on a
very restricted basis with one or two others equally
Interested with me in this particular field.
These days there are rumors that your host
may be returning to his homeland. As yet however
this is still in the rumor stage.
Sincerely.
ten W. les
Direc
AWD:mfb
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- J. W. FULBRIGHT.
. ,
JOHN SPARKMAN, ALA.
HUBERX H. HUMPHREY, MINN.
MIKE MANSFIELD, MONT.
WAYNE MORSE, OREG.
RUSSELL B. LONG, LA.
ALBERT GORE, TENN.
FRANK J. LAUSCHE, OHIO
FRANK CHURCH, IDAHO
STUART SYMINGTON, MO.
THOMAS J. DODD, CONN.
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ARK., CHAIRMAN
ALEXANDER WILEY. WIS.
BOURKE B. HICKENLOOPER, IOWA
GEORGE D. AIKEN, VT.
HOMER E. CAPENART,
FRANK CARLSON, KANS.
JOHN J. WILLIAMS, DEL.
CARL MARCY, CHIEF Or STAFF
DARRELL ST. CLAIRE, CLERK
11Cnifeb Zoictiez -Zenate
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
Honorable Allen Dulles
Director
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington 25, D. C.
Dear Mr. Dulles:
February 3, 1961
Although the information contained herein may
be of no particular interest, it occurs to me that the Agency might
be interested in an invitation which Mrs. Gore and I accepted from
the Soviet Ambassador and the conversation of the evening.
Beginning sometime in November, Ambassador
Men.shikov extended several invitations; each time we found our-
selves unable to accept. Finally, in. January, his secretary called
and said that the Ambassador would like to extend an. invitation for
either luncheon or dinner, any time in. the month of February. I
promptly accepted for the evening of February 1.
There were no particularly significant develop-
ments in the conversation. I asked the Ambassador point-blank if
Mr. Khrushchev would attend the United Nations session this winter
or spring. He quickly said, "I have not the slightest information on
that. "
He then. proceeded to say that one did not visit a
country unless invited, etc. I called to his attention the fact that no
invitation was necessary for a head of state to attend a United Nations
session. This conversation proceeded along the line which I interpret-
ed to be an effort to learn my views of the advisability of such a visit
or early meeting between the heads of state of our two countries. There-
upon, I expressed the view -- which I emphasized was purely my own
personal view which in no way reflected any conversations I had had
with anyone in the executive branch of the government -- that it would
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Honorable Allen Dulles February 3, 1961
not be in the interest of better relations between the countries for
such a situation to be pressed by Premier Khrushchev at this time.
I recalled that Mr. Khrushchev had visited and toured this country
and that our President had been disinvited to visit the Soviet Union,
albeit after the occurrence of an event which I thought he and I would
prefer not to mention or discuss. I further expressed the view, again
emphasizing it as being an entirely personal one, that the restoration
of sufficient comity between the countries, which would of necessity
be accomplished only by step-by-step development and the passage of
time, and the extension of an. invitation to the President of the United
States to visit the Soviet Union, would be conditions wisely precedent
to Mr. Khrushchevls pressing the collar, so to speak, for another
visit to the United States.
Mr. Menshikov placed considerable emphasis upon
the need for bettering relations, developing understanding, more peace-
ful exchanges and, of course, I concurred in the desirability of such de-
velopment, but I did not think the conversation resulted in anything more
than general expressions of views on these points.
Upon my initiation, we discussed at some length trade
between the countries. I told him that a personal friend of mine is cur-
rently on a trip around the world, and that I had asked him, and that Sec-
retary of Commerce Luther Hodges had requested him, to inquire about
opportunities for improving U. S. trade with other countries which he
visited, including the Soviet Union. Mr. Menshikov said he would be
glad to facilitate such a visit and started to take some notes, whereupon
I suggested that I would give him a memorandum upon the matter. (A
copy of this memorandum is attached.)
Mrs. Menshikov proved to be a gracious and pleasant
hostess. I found it interesting that at least twice, perhaps three times,
the Ambassador said that his wife was not a member of the Party. Upon
one occasion, she said she was "independent." Upon another occasion,
after I had inquired of his definition of a "revisionist," he, in a light
manner (although I was not entirely sure of this) said, "She's a revision-
ist." I take it that all this was light and social banter, but I found it in-
teresting, to say the least of it.
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Honorable Allen Dulles February 3, 1961
There was some general discussion of disarma-
ment and nuclear weapons tests. I did not find him as inquisitive in
respect of nuclear weapons tests on. this visit as on a visit with him
last summer about which I reported to you.
I probed with some insistence upon the unity of
communist nations and communist doctrine, with particular refer-
ence to the independence of a given country, especially with the other
communist countries, and possible variation of views and application
of communist theory as between communist parties. I was somewhat
surprised at his readiness to state that there were differences. As
between Russia and China, for instance, he said that relations were
as between nations with payments made, balance of payments kept,
understandings entered into, etc. Each time, though, he would insist
that there was unity of communism.
The above is the gist of the conversation with the
usual pleasantries and amenities and idle chatter about weather, chil-
dren, home life, politics, etc., thrown in. If anyone in the Agency
would have any specific inquiry, I shall be glad to report in greater
.A.G:dsc
en.c
Sinly y ur s,
ert Gore
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667-07g
February 3, 1961
EM0,11.A. DUkt
To: Ambassador tolenshikov
From: Albert Gore, U. S. S.
Dr. Armand Hammer, who lived and was in
business in the Soviet Union for about nine years in the
1920e, and who has been immensely successful in the
business field since his return to the United States, is
en route to Moscow now. I have asked him, and Secre
tall of Commerce Luther Hodges has requested him,
to explore,s0 a private citizen, the possibilities for in
creased trade between the people of the Soviet Union and
the people of the United States. Whatever efforts Dr.
Hammer undertakes in this regard will be as a private
citizen. but we hope it will be helpful. He expects to
arrive in Moscow on or about February U. He would
like an appointment with First Deputy Chairman Mikoyan.
I have written Deputy Chairman Mikoyan direct for an ap-
pointment and I am today communicating with the United
States Ambassador requesting such an appointment. Any
assistance which Ambassador Merashikav can give with
respect to Dr. Hammer's visit will be appreciated.
(This is a copy of a memorandum dictated to a
at the Soviet Embassy by telephone today.)
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