BRIEF OF INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND ALEKSEI ADZHUBEI (EDITOR OF IZVESTIA)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R000800070007-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 22
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 19, 2002
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: November 30, 1961
• Content Type: MF

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30 November 1961
SUBJECT Brief of Interview between the President
and Aleksei Adzhubei (Editor of IZVESTIA)
1. The first question asked by Mr. Adzhubei was what the President
thought about the present state of Soviet-American relations and what in
his opinion must be done by the American as well as the Soviet Governments
to improve relations between the two countries. The President replied
that the relations today are not as satisfactory as he had hoped they would
be when he first took office. He went on to say that one of the first
things that he did on becoming President was to commit the United States to
an earnest effort to achieve a satisfactory agreement with the Soviet Union
on the cessation of nuclear tests. The President also said that we were
not successful, and we were in fact still at the table in Geneva when,
still negotiating, the Soviet Union resumed its tests, tests which must have
been in preparation for many months, at the very time the conversations
were going on.
2. In regard to the idea that every people shall have the right to
make a free choice as to the kind of government they want, President Kennedy
said that if the people of any country choose to follow a communist system
in a free election after a fair opportunity for a number of views to be
presented, the United States would accept that. The President pointed out
that Mr. Jagan, who was recently elected Prime Minister in British Guiana
is a Marxist, but the United States does not object -- because that choice
was made by an honest election which he won.
3. To the question re idea of concluding a pact of peace between the
United States and the Soviet Union, the President replied that we should
have not only an agreement between our countries, but take those steps which
make peace possible. He said that he didn't think that paper, and words
on paper are as significant as looking at those areas which provide tension
between the two systems and seeing if we can dispel that tension. He felt
that one of those areas now is the problem of Germany and Berlin and if
we could make progress there, then in his opinion, it would provide a most
important step in improving our relations in other areas.
4. To the question re complete disarmament, the President said that
there must be adequate inspection, to make sure that each side is disarming
and staying in accordance with the agreements which they make. The Soviet
Union has stated that it will permit us, or the international body, to inspect
those weapons which are destroyed but will not permit us to carry out an
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inspection to see what weapons remain. One side could destroy a hundred
bombers but still have a thousand or two thousand bombers left. To pro-
vide for orderly disarmament, we have to inspect not only those weapons which
have been destroyed, but also these weapons that remain. Otherwise we do
not have any guarantee of security for either side.
5. President Kennedy made the point that he recognizes that the
Soviet Union can sign any treaty it wishes with the East German authorities.
However, what he finds to be so dangerous is the claim that the treaty
will deny us our rights in West Berlin, rights which we won through the
war, rights which were agreed to by the Soviet Union, the United States,
Britain and France at the conclusion of the war, and which should be con-
tinued. The President went on to say that all Berlin was put under four
power authority by the agreements at Potsdam. East Berlin, which was under
the immediate authority of the Soviet Union, has now been turned over to
East Germany in violation of those agreements. And now the Soviet Union
seeks to place Soviet troops in West Berlin. It does not suggest that
the troops of the other three powers be placed in East Berlin. In other
words, the Soviet Union now seeks to share in the control of West Berlin.
The second point is this question of the rights of access in crossing
East Germany. In the President's opinion, if such an agreement is signed, if
our rights on the communication lines between the West and West Berlin --
which are now governed by the Soviet Union -- are turned over to the East
German authorities, and if the East Germans should interfere with that right
of access, for one reason or another, then this would provide for heightened
tension, the Soviet Union might come to the support of East Germany and
we would find ourselves, instead of having settled this now, once more
face to face.
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. MEMORANDUM FOR: Mr. McCone
In..case you did not have an opportunity to
read the interview between the President and
Adzhubei, attached is a complete transcript,
together with a brief.
]/ ' 1 WIT (2 Dec ~61)
(DATE)
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REPLACES FORM 10-101 (47)
FORM N0. lOl ..- na AY AE USED. 1
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" T R A N S C R I F T of Interview between the 1--resident and Aleksei Adzhubei
(Editor of IZVESTV,,)., In addition, those present were: Mr. Alex. Akalovsky
(Interpreter for the President), jv%ir. Georgi Bolshikov (Interpreter for Mr.
Adzhubei and Editor of USSR Magazine), Nir. Pierre Salinger (Press Secre-
tary to the ).President), and Mr. Jack Romagna (Shorthand Reporter, 'White
House Staff). Held in the living room, the President's residence, Hyannis Port,
Massachusetts at 10:20 a.rn. (EST), November 25, 1961
MR. ADZHUBEI : Mr. President, I alrJ happy to get this interview from you,
and I would like to tell you quite frankly that your election to the high post of
President of the United States office was met with great hope by public opinion
in our country. In connection with this, I would like to ask you the following
question THE PRESIDENT : May I just say that I appreciate very much your cort-ling to
the United States. I also appreciate the opportunity to talk, through you and
through your newspaper, to the people of the Soviet Union. I think that com-
munication, an exchange of views, an honest report of what our countries are
like and what they want and what the people wish, is in the interests of both
our countries and in the interests of peace, Co we are delighted to have this
opportunity,
MR. ADZHUBEI : I would like to a k you the following question. Mr. Presi-
dent, during the election campaign, on several occasions you expressed good
intentions with respect to the necessity of improving Soviet-American relations.
On the occasion of your Inauguration as President of a great country, Nikita
Khrushchev, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR., and Leonid
Brezhnev, Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR in
their i .essage to you, expressed the hope that by their joint efforts ours coun-
tries can succeed in.radically improving our relations and the international
situation. They also expressed-confidence. that we can, step by step,,. liquidate
the existing suspicion and distrust, and thus bring cooperation between our
peoples. On its part, the Soviet government is always ready to support any
good endeavor in that direction, and to do its best for the establishment of a
stable peace in the world, in order that all peoples may live in friendship and
without hatred among them.
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Over
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(Transcript - The Fr resident and Mr, Adzhubei)
Mr. President,, what do you think about the pre3ent state of Soviet-American
relations, and what in your opinion must be done by the American as well as
the Soviet governments to improve the relation& between our two countries?
THE PRESIDENT : Well, I would say that the relations today are not as satis-
factory as I had hoped they would be when I first took office. In fact, one of
the first things that I did on becoming President was to commit the United
States to an earnest effort to achieve a satisfactory agreement with the Soviet
Union on the cessation of nuclear tests. As a result of that effort, at the end
of 14..arch, we sent our representatives, along with Great Britain'?s, to Geneva
for the first time with a complete treaty which we tabled for discussion. I had
hoped that this would be one area where we could rnake real progress. It would
lessen the contamination of the air, it would be a first step towards disarrr;a-
x,ent, and I felt that if we could achieve an agreement in this area, we could
then move on to the other areas of disarmament which required action.
vie were not successful. And, as you know, we were in fact still at the table
in Geneva in August when, still negotiating, the .Soviet Union resume-d its tests,
tests which must have been in preparation for zany months, at the very time
that the conversations were. going on. So that has been a disappointment.
In addition, Berlin and Germany have become, I think, areas of heightened
crisis since the Vienna meeting, and I think extremely dangerous to the peace,
I know -- both of our people want.
I think that the Soviet Union and the United States should live together in peace.
We are large countries, energetic people, we are steadily providing in both
our countries an increase in the standard of living. If we can kdep the peace
for twenty years, the life of the people of the Soviet Union and the life of the
people of the United States will be far richer and will be far happier-as the
standard of living steadily rises
Where we feel the difficulty comes is the effort by the Soviet Union to com-
munize, in a sense, the entire world. If the Soviet Union were merely seeking
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(Transcript - The I resident and Mr. Adzhubei)
to protect its own national interests, to protect its own national security, and
would perr dt other countries to live as they wish -- to live in peace -- then I
believe that the problems which now cause so much tension would fade away.
We want the ,people of the. Soviet Union to live in peace -- we want the :.arrse for
our own people. It is this effort to push outward the communist system, on to
country after country, that represents, I thine:, the great threat to peace. If
the Soviet Union looked only to its national interest and to providing a better
life for its people under conditions of peace, I think there would be nothing
that would disturb the relations between the Soviet Union and the United States.
MR. ADZHUBEI : That is very interesting. However as a citizen of the Soviet.
Union, as a r:: ember of the Cori-nuniot Ir- arty, I cannot a Zee with you, in that
part of your answer where you am- saying that we are trying to "communize"
the world. At the 22nd Party Congreoc, which, in our opinion, Was. an historic
event, we adopted a program of corn mmnist development and we said that we are
against any export of the revolution, but we are also against any export of
counter-revolution. If we turn to facts, there are many countries in the world
in the affairs of which, from our point of view the United States is interfering.
Yesterday, I raw a T. V. prograr-gym which was being shown to millions of Ameri-
cans, where your commentator asserted that the whole world is under complete
threat of the communists to capture the world. We would like to see an end
put to this situation.
Our governae nt and our party believe that every people chooses such a system
of governrrreat as they like. Austria chose the capitalist way of developrment,
although American and Soviet troops were thee. But Cuba has chosen another
way,pf development. And we would be happy if you, i'i-r. President, were to
state that the interference in the affairs of Cuba, was a r_:istake, . ode hope that
the Cuban: people will consolidate their own way of life -- as well as the.: `o-
rr inican Republic, Ecuador, Brazil and 2-vAany other countries.
THE 'P aESIL)E1\TT : May I just say, without getting into a debate, he
United States .supports the idea that every people shall have the right to r~.ake a
i4OR L
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(Transcript - The President and Mr. Adzhubei) - -4-
free choice as to the kind of government they want. 1 In the case of Cuba, let me
remind you that the Castro revolution was originally supported by the great
majority of the people. When Castro was leading the revolution, the statement
was made that there would be free elections, and freedom for.the people, and
progress for the people. But Castro has not kept that conhrx:itment. Until the
present government of Cuba will allow free and honest elections, in our opinion,
it cannot claim to represent the majority of the people. That is our dispute
with Cuba.
- r. Jagan, on the other hand, who was recently elected prir_-_e Minister in
British Guiana is a h arxist, but the United States doesn't object -- because
that choice was made by an honest election, which he won.
If the people of any country choose to follow a communist system. in a free
election, after a fair opportunity for a number of views to be presented, the
United States would accept that. What we find to be objectionable, and a threat
to the peace, is when a system., is imposed by a small militant group by subver-
Sion, infiltration, and all the rest.
If the Soviet Union and this country could develop their own resources, and if
you permitted the peoples of the world to develop is the way they wish to de-
velop, then, if any nation should choose a communist system,, we would recog-
nize and accept that. And if they chose another system, then we would hope
that you would recognize and accept that, too. If we could get that on both
sides, I believe the soviet Union and the United StE.tes, which have so much to
gain from peace, could live in peace.
IlMR . ADZHUBEI : I understand you, Mr. President, and I am very happy to
hear these words from you, because as you know, the future of the world de-
pends in many respects on the relations between the United States and our coun-
try. Let the people decide what way of development they want to choose. Flow-
ever I would like to draw your attention to the following historical parallel.
When the Bolsheviks, headed by V. I. Lenin, came to power, all the capitalist
world was shouting that they were plotters and that there was- no freedom in
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~~ai cripi - e rest ent an Mr. x z u ei
Russia but/zl4 years our country became a great power. But this is not the
issue.. I would like to .ask you another question --
THE PRESIDENT : You are a newspaper man and a politician.
MR. Ai?ZHUBEI : In our country every citizen is a politician, because we like
our-country very much. The young and the old like the socialist system", of our
country and we are ready to fight for it until its victorious end. You are proud
of your country, N.Lr. President, and we are also very much proud of our own
country, and we are very proud of our party, and we are proud of V. I. Lenin.
ivMr. President, cox~~.etimes its said that in order to improve the relations be-
tween our countries, it is necessary to start with the settlement of small prob-
lems.. Others believe that too many small issues have accumulated and that
perhaps it would be better to start with a big act. lle believe that such a big act
was the visit by Nikita Sergeyevich I~hrushchev to the United States in 1959. BI
unfortunately the results of that trip were not completely satisfactory. I M.r.
resident, what is your attitude toward the idea of concluding a pact of peace
between the United States and the Soviet Union? That would be a great step
forward.
THE PRESIDENT: I think we should have not only an agreer.ent between our
countries, but take those steps which make peace possible. I don't think that
paper, and words on paper, are as significant as looking at those areas which
provide tension between our two systems and seeing if we can dispel that tensioi
One of those areas now is the problem of Germany and Berlin. If we could mak?
progress there, then in r;.my opinion it would provide a most important step in
improving our relations in other areas.
I stated that if we had been able to get an agreement on the nuclear tests cessa-
tion, that would lead to other agreements on disarriiar ient. If we can make an
agreement successfully which provides peace in Central Europe, if we can con-
clude our. effort:; in Laos and insure a government and a country which are
neutral and independent, as Chairman Khrushchev and I agreed at Vienna, then
MORE
Over
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(Transcript - The President and hy1r. Adzhubei)
we would be able to move into other areas of tension. I believe, as I have
said, if we can now make an agreement on a satisfactory basis on Berlin and
Germany, which is the most critical area -- because it represents a matter
of great interest to both our cowitries, and great concern to our peoples -- then
we could take other steps. If we can solve the p2oble-n of Germany andBer-
lin, I believe we can find our relations subs-ant;
3.'''.y im rovee&
14-R. ADZHU p ~,
I ? ihaiyc you, Mr. Presidc:t:,t, i;l.5.s is a most worthy thought.
ecially lb~t%.ause, as I understand you, you inte -.d to tal : seriously on these
problems with our nverr_ra' ' nt. Let me say that t ,e Gcr:gar! _obl,a n is of
great i np?orta.nce to our country, for many :.easor . Not or . r for strictly po-
liti cal reasons, and not only because of prestige c,=nsider