April 30, 1968
Andrei Gromyko, Note to the CPSU CC
This document was made possible with support from Carnegie Corporation of New York (CCNY)
SECRET Copy Nº 1
[stamp:
CPSU CC
11708
30 APRIL 1968
1st Sector]
to the CPSU CC
With respect to our struggle to ensure support for the nuclear weapons non-proliferation treaty at the 22nd UN General Assembly session underway and its [Translator’s note: the treaty’s] fastest possible conclusion the USSR MFA considers it useful to turn to Pope Paul VI through existing channels in order to try and use the capabilities of the Vatican in this direction.
Pope Paul VI has spoken both publicly as well as in personal conversations with Soviet representatives in favor of halting the arms race, including nuclear [arms], and in favor of disarmament. Support to the non-proliferation treaty from the Vatican in one form or another could exert a certain effect on the Catholic countries, some of which, as is well-known, are creating obstacles to the conclusion of the treaty.
A draft decree is attached.
Please examine [it].
30 April 1968
[signed] A. Gromyko
In his note to the CPSU CC, Gromyko writes that the Soviet MFA should reach out to Pope Paul VI about supporting the NPT. As the Pope has spoken out against the arms race before, Gromyko is optimistic that the treaty will gain support from the Vatican. This would exert influence on other Catholic countries to support the treaty as well.
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