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Documents

May 19, 1961

Letter from Ambassador Pervukhin to Foreign Minister Gromyko on the German Problem

Ambassador Pervukhin reports to Russian Foreign Minister Gromyko on the position of the East German government regarding the possibility of a peace treaty between the Soviet Union and East Germany and a resolution to the ambiguous status of Berlin. The report also discusses the possibility of enforcing better border controls between east and west Berlin in order to "close 'the door to the West.'"

October 26, 1962

Cable from Dutch Embassy, Washington (Van Roijen), 26 October 1962

Van Roijen relates the current situation in Washington and the American view on the crisis. The removal of the missiles was a non-negotiable issue for the Americans, as Secretary of State Dean Rusk declared their removal was absolutely essential. In the mind of American statesmen, the missiles in Cuba was directly connected to the 1961 Berlin crisis, as it was a new Soviet technique. The hurried construction of the bases was reported to go on, meaning time is of the utmost essence. The Americans were not above considering force to resolve the crisis, although this was relegated to a worst-case scenario.

October 25, 1962

Cable from Dutch Embassy, Washington (Van Roijen), 25 October 1962

Van Roijen relates in this cable the details of a meeting with the US State Department's Bureau of Western European Affairs. With regards to Cuba, the Soviets assured the United States that they would not supply Cuba with offensive military weapons and even detailed the ranges of the missiles shipped. The construction of the bases was done in such haste that no attempt to conceal them was made, indicating the construction was on a time limit. These along with several other factors (the 1961 Berlin crisis, internal pressure within the Soviet Union) had convinced the administration that the Soviets had the fixed determination to confront the US.

October 27, 1962

Cable from Federal Republic of Germany Embassy, Washington (Knappstein)

A cable from the West German Embassy in Washington, D.C. discussing the threat to American security posed by an "offensive" Soviet base in Cuba, insights provided by recent intelligence, the purpose and the impact of the American blockade of Cuba, negotiations that have taken place at the United Nations, Soviet intentions during the Cuban crisis and, finally, a comparison of Cuba to the situation in Berlin.

June 20, 1961

Free Europe Committee Proposal to Exploit Berlin Crisis

FEC Directors C. D. Jackson and Whitney Debevoise discuss with State Department officials their ideas on using RFE to pressure the Soviets during the Berlin Crisis

August 4, 1961

Excerpts from Khrushchev's Comments at Conference of First Secretaries of CC of Communist and Workers Parties of Socialist Countries

Selected excerpts from Khrushchev's concluding speech at a conference of Warsaw Pact leader, focused on the building crisis over the status of Berlin.

June 23, 1961

Telegram from Gaqo Paze, the Albanian Ambassador in GDR to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania

Gaqo Paze reports from Berlin that during the conversation between the Yugoslav Ambassador to Berlin Voshnjak, and the Soviet ambassador to Berlin Pervukhin, the latter had asked if Yugoslavia would subscribe to the peace treaty with the GDR if the Western states would not accept to sign the peace treaty with both German states. Voshnjak avoided giving a direct answer several times, but in the end he implicitly expressed, according to Gaqo Paze, that Yugoslavia would not sign the treaty.

November 30, 1960

Record of Meeting of Comrade N.S. Khrushchev with Comrade W. Ulbricht

Ulbricht explains the economic situation in the GDR and East Berlin in the context of the Berlin Crisis, and proposals for East German economic development. Ulbricht and Khrushchev discuss the possibility of political and economic peace negotiations with the FDR and the three Western powers.

August 1961

Italian Prime Minister Fanfani's Visit to Moscow, August 1961

A series of talks between Fanfani and Khrushchev in Moscow in early August 1961. The focus of the talks is on the ongoing Berlin Crisis and "the German question." Other topics include relations between Italy and the Soviet Union, East/West tensions, and nuclear disarmament.

Pagination