YOUR MEETING WITH BILL SHINN, US CONSUL, LENINGRAD (1330, MONDAY 20 JUNE)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85M00364R000601050002-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 1, 2008
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: June 17, 1983
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2008/02/01 : CIA-RDP85M00364R000601050002-1
SECRET
National Intelligence Council
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
NIC #4355-83
17 June 1983
FROM Stanley M. Moskowitz
National Intelligence Officer for USSR-EE
SUBJECT Your :.ecting with Bill Shinn,
US Consul, Leningrad (1330, Monday 20 June)
1. We have scheduled this meeting for two reasons:
Bill Shinn is one of our most perceptive observers of the
Soviet scene
His views about the operations of the Consulate will give you
first-hand information about a subject which may soon be under
NSC consideration -- the reopening of the US and Soviet
consulates in Kiev and New York.
2. Bill Shinn has devoted much of his life to Soviet affairs. He
spent a year in Leningrad as a student; has served in Moscow, Warsaw, on the
SALT I de1Pg3t4r;n and as head of the State Department Soviet office. In
1980 his Parkinson's disease became worse and it was feared that his active
career might be ending. Fortunately, in the summer of 1982, a new
experimental drug made it possible for him to return to action as our Consul
in Leningrad -- to his great satisfaction and to our great benefit. Since
then, he has aggressively and intelligently pushed to extend the Consulate's
access to Soviet officials and private citizens. His reports have been a
model of erudition and lively writing as examplified by his analysis that
anti-American attitudes appeared to be on the rise in Leningrad (a report
you have seen).
3. His visit to the US comes at a particularly good time as the NSC
may soon consider the desirability of reopening US and Soviet consulates in
Kiev and New York. You will recall that State has been proposing this as a
way of enhancing the US-Soviet dialogue but that others had been opposed
because it would reverse an Afghanistan-related sanction (the US ordered the
consulates closed in retaliation for the Soviet invasion.) This
consideration is important but I believe that in weighing State's proposal
we should also look at the value of the consulates to ourselves and the
Soviets. Bill Shinn should be able to cast some light on this.
SECRET
CL BY SIGNER
RVW 17 JUN 89
DECL OADR
Approved For Release 2008/02/01: CIA-RDP85M00364R000601050002-1 ~49
 Approved For Release 2008/02/01: CIA-RDP85M00364R000601050002-1
StC~Kt
4. In light of the foregoing I suggest that there are three areas you
may wish to explore with Shinn:
-- What we and the Soviets get out of our respective consulates
-- His general perceptions of Soviet life today as compared to
his previous Soviet tour in the sixties
-- His personal appreciation of Romanov (with whom he has met)
5. Bob Gates knows Shinn well from his SALT and NSC days and we have
invited him to participate in your meeting with Shinn. In addition we shall
have a small lunch for Shinn immediately before your meeting with him
tanley M. Moskowitz
SECRET
25X1
25X1
25X1
Approved For Release 2008/02/01: CIA-RDP85M00364R000601050002-1
 Approved For Release 2008/02/01: CIA-RDP85M00364R000601050002-1
Approved For Release 2008/02/01: CIA-RDP85M00364R000601050002-1