November 5, 1962
Gromyko Cable to Kuznetsov and Zorin in New York
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GROMYKO CABLE TO V.KUZNETSOV AND V.ZORIN TO NEW YORK
November 5, 1962
1. For observers of the IRC the Soviet ship "Amata" is assigned, which is nowadays at the Havana's harbor. It will be ready to receive IRC observers on November 6 in the area of Havana outside the Cuban territorial waters. The ship's number of "Amata" for radio communication with the UN are YFHM. Communication with "Amata" is carried out at the frequency of 500 kilogertz. Let us know the ship's number of the UN.
Soviet ships, directing to Cuba, will not go through Windward passage until November 12, so there is no necessity to have in this area a vessel with IRC observers on board. Nevertheless, if Mr. Narasiman will insist on having a vessel with IRC observers in Windward passage too, then the UN should freight a vessel of a neutral country.
2. You have correctly drawn Mr. Narasiman's attention to the point that the number of observers (16 persons on each vessel) is unjustifiably high. Insist on reduction.
3. We agree with you that the Soviet part will cover only the expenses of the Soviet ship; freight of a neutral country's vessel and expenses related to the IRC must be covered by the US and UN. If the IRC express its readiness to pay for the observers, we don't have any objections.
4. You have correctly underlined that inspection of the vessels by the IRC representatives must have only a short-time character and be stopped immediately after shipping of the dismantled missiles from Cuba which must be followed by an immediate liquidation of quarantine, as it is mentioned in our cable No 1278.
5. As to the forms of control we have already informed, particularly Mr. U Thant (see our cable No 1254),about our consent with his offer to let representatives of International Red Cross to come aboard Soviet ships going to Cuba in order to ascertain that there are no kinds of weapons, named offensive by the US, so you may not object examination by the IRS observers, as it was suggested by Mr. Narasirnan. At the same time you should underline that the ships going to Cuba do not have any weapons at all.
05.11.62
A.GROMYKO
Gromyko cable to Kuznetsov and Zorin in New York regarding preparation for International Red Cross' inspection of the Soviet ship "Amata", the number of observers on each vessel, division of the inspection cost, the duration of IRC inspection, and Soviet acceptance to let IRC observers inspect Soviet ships bound for Cuba.
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