SPAAK'S 8 JULY CONVERSATION WITH KHRUSHCHEV

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Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP79T00429A001200010013-2
Release Decision: 
RIFPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
3
Document Creation Date: 
December 20, 2016
Document Release Date: 
March 22, 2006
Sequence Number: 
13
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
July 15, 1963
Content Type: 
IM
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PDF icon CIA-RDP79T00429A001200010013-2.pdf156.32 KB
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Approved For Relea1007/03/08SB 4T00429A00 2200 010013-2 OCI No. 1581/63 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY Office of Current Intelligence 15 July 1963 CURRENT INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM SUBJECT: Spaak's 8 July Conversation with Khrushchev 1. In briefing the NATO Council last Friday on his 8 July talk with Khrushchev, Belgian Foreign Minister Spaak emphasized At the outset that there were many ambiguities in the Soviet Premier's re-- marks,. Spank stressed that there was a "marked dif- ference" between the 8 July talk and their precious talk in September 1961. 2. Spaak pointed out that in 1961 Khrushchev had clear ideas on the then existing situation and had suggested "some possibilities for settlement of the Berlin and German problems" with the hope that these would be restated to NATO. Accordingly, Khru- shchev had then put forward clear and categorical ideat, since he wanted to make practical and pre- cise suggestions to the West. This was not the case during the 8 July talk. Spaak said Khrushchev's opinions, as set forth in their recent Kiev conver- sation, were "more confused, more vague, more fluc- tuating and often contradictory." Spaak's report, therefore, contains a great deal of personal inter- pretation and, in his own words, "a greater chance of error." 3. According to Spaak, the subject of disarma- ment was the "most positive part" of the 8 July talk, Spaak said Khrushchev "appeared to think" it would be possible to conclude a partial test-ban agreement which excluded underground testing. The former NATO Secretary General "had the impression" that Khrushchev State Dept. review completed Approved For Release 2007/03M. 6t y9T00429A001200010013-2 Approved For Relea 007/03/0&S G Tf00429A0012 10013-2 might be willing to set up more than three "black boxes" to control a ban on underground testing. The Soviet Premier, however, indicated no change from his well-known position that there is no distinction between international control--i.e,, on-site, inspec- tions with roving international personnel--and es- pionage, 4. Spaak said that while the Soviet leader mentioned a NATO - Warsaw Pact nonaggression treaty, "it did not seem to be a particular importance" to Khrushchev. Spaak stated that although Khrushchev expressed agreement with the "idea" of a nonaggres- sion accord, he was "not as enthusiastic" as Spaak had expected he would be. 5. Spaak was "surprised and disturbed" by Khrushchev's raising of the subject of Germany and Berlin. According to Spaak, Khrushchev put forward his ideas on these matters "in an extremely vigorous manner." (Khrushchev had also conducted himself in this way during his early June talk with Laborite leader Harold Wilson. He was very mild on Berlin and Germany, however, in his public statements dur- ing his recent visit to East Germany.) There is no i dicatioih in Spaak's report that Khrushchev set any deadlines for a settlement of the German question. Spaak himself noted that Khrushchev "reduced somewhat" his aggressiveness on the German and Berlin questions during the course of their conversation. 6. The Belgian Foreign Minister also noted that Khrushchev stressed "peaceful coexistence," and a stand against war. At one point Khrushchev said that "even incidents" in Berlin and Germany "could not lead" to a nuclear war and "only a fool" would start such a war. 7. Khrushchev did not, apparently, discuss Cuba or Castro. Nor did he discuss his differences with the Chinese Communists. Spaak believes that the Sino-Soviet negotiations are the "missing link" in Western efforts to understand that Soviet policies will be !!tomorrow." -2 Approved For Release 2007/OE gZL4RF79T00429A001200010013-2 Approved For Relea 1007/03/08SS t00429A001010013-2 8. In contradistinction to 1961, Khrushchev talked a great deal about the Soviet Union and its "great industrial power." According to Spaak, he "seemed primarily preoccupied" with domestic.prob- lems and gave a long dissertation particularly on Soviet agricultural difficulties. Approved For Release 2007/0SI?(. P79T00429A001200010013-2