Notification will continue to be addressed to the Department of State, the Army, Navy, or Air Force Foreign Liaison Offices, or the United States Mission to the United Nations in New York, New York, as appropriate.

Soviet citizens will not be permitted to hire unchauffeured automobiles during the course of a trip; nor are they to use as means of transportation helicopters or charter aircraft.

E. Aircraft and Shipping Incidents

[NOTE: See also ante, doc. III-23.]

VI-50

THE MARCH 8, 1963 (SOVIET REFRIGERATOR-TRAWLER SRTR-9007) INCIDENT 70 MILES EAST OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA: Note From the Soviet Embassy in Washington to the Department of State, March 12, 19631

Unofficial translation

No. 9

The Embassy of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics has the honor to state the following upon instructions from the Soviet Government.

According to information received, on March 8 of this year two American "Boston" class cruisers and a "Franks" class destroyer fired upon a Soviet refrigerator trawler (SRTR-9007), which was fishing in the open sea. At the moment of the firing the Soviet trawler was located 70 miles east of Norfolk (at 36°53.3' North, 74°58′ West).

2

At 12:15 the American warships fired two dummy shells towards the trawler from a distance of 5 miles. The shells fell approximately 130 meters from the vessel. Then at 12:50, approaching to a distance of about 1 kilometer, they fired two more dummy shells, which fell 60 meters from the trawler. By their actions, the American warships created a threat to the safety of the Soviet trawler and its crew.

The Soviet Government cannot regard the firing upon of a fishing vessel of the U.S.S.R. by ships of the Navy of the U.S.A. otherwise than as a crude violation of the generally-recognized standards of international law, the principles of freedom of navigation in the open sea, and as an undisguised arbitrary act which can lead to serious consequences.

The Soviet Government protests to the Government of the United States of America on the occasion of the above actions of provocation by American warships, expects that those guilty will be punished, and that the necessary measures will also be taken for the barring of similar actions in the future.

1

Department of State Bulletin, Apr. 1, 1963, p. 476.

"No time zone indicated-translator's note. [Footnote in source text.]

VI-51

THE MARCH 8, 1963 (SOVIET REFRIGERATOR-TRAWLER SRTR-9007) INCIDENT 70 MILES EAST OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA: Note From the Department of State to the Soviet Embassy in Washington, Delivered March 14, 1963 3

3

The Department of State acknowledges the receipt of note No. 9 from the Embassy of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics dated March 12, 1963 expressing serious concern over a reported firing by United States Navy ships on a Soviet refrigerator-trawler (SRTR9007) March 8, 1963 approximately 70 miles east of Norfolk, Virginia. A thorough investigation was initiated immediately upon the receipt of the Embassy's note with the following results.

The position given in the Embassy's note for the location of the Soviet vessel at the time of the alleged incident lies well within an established and recognized United States Navy operations area used for many years for gunnery and other exercises by ships of the United States Navy. On March 8, 1963, there were in this operations area six United States Navy destroyers which engaged in gunnery exercises during the course of the day. The destroyer nearest the location of the alleged incident within the indicated time period conducted antiaircraft firing practice (against a target towed by an airplane) in an easterly and westerly direction with ammunition having a maximum range of seven miles while the destroyer was ten miles southwest of the location of the alleged incident. Before and during the firing practice, clearance of the range was established in accordance with normal safety procedures and no other surface vessels were within twelve miles of the destroyer at the time of firing. At no time did this destroyer or any other United States naval vessel in the general area engage in any firing when any surface vessel or aircraft could be endangered. No cruisers were among the United States Navy vessels in the area.

VI-52

THE MARCH 15, 1963 (TWO SOVIET RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT) INCIDENT (ALASKAN AREA): Note From the American Embassy in Moscow to the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Delivered March 16, 1963 5

It has been established that two Soviet reconnaissance aircraft violated United States air space over Alaska on March 15, 1963. The first of these entered United States air space at 59° 52 minutes North 163° West at 0705 Z departing at 60° 18 minutes North 166° 40

* Department of State press release No. 134. Mar. 15, 1963 (text as printed in the Department of State Bulletin, Apr. 1, 1963, pp. 475–476).

Supra.

Department of State press release No. 138 (text as printed in the Department of State Bulletin, Apr. 1, 1963, p. 476).

minutes West at 0730 Z. The second entered United States air space at 59° 50 minutes North 163° 10 minutes West at 0713 Z departing at 61° 10 minutes North 165° 40 minutes West at 0734 Z. Both planes then flew off in the direction of the Soviet Union. The United States Government protests these overflights of United States territory by Soviet aircraft and expects that the Soviet Government will take all necessary measures to prevent any repetition.

VI-53

THE MARCH 15, 1963 (TWO SOVIET RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT) INCIDENT (ALASKAN AREA): Note From the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the American Embassy in Moscow, Delivered March 27, 1963 €

The U.S.S.R. Ministry of Foreign Affairs sends its respects to the Embassy of the United States of America and, in reference to the Embassy's note No. 738 of March 16, 1963, concerning the alleged violation of U.S. air space by two Soviet planes, reports the following upon instructions from the Soviet government.

As a result of a thorough investigation conducted by competent Soviet authorities, it has been established that on March 15, 1963, two Soviet planes made a routine flight over the international waters of the Bering Sea. However, during these flights the Soviet planes did not fly over the territory of the United States of America and did not violate U.S. air space either at the point indicated in the Embassy note or at any other point in Alaska.

According to the data of the investigation, the flights took place over international waters. The Soviet planes flew no nearer than 350 kilometers to the place indicated in the Embassy note at which they allegedly entered U.S. air space.

In view of the above, the Soviet government rejects the protest of the government of the United States of America as unfounded.

VI-54

The MARCH 17 AND 26–27, 1963 (SOVIET MERCHANT VESSELS L'GOV AND BAKU) INCIDENTS (CUBAN AREA): Note From the American Embassy in Moscow to the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Delivered April 3, 1963 8

9

By its notes of March 27 and of March 29, 1963,10 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics presented protests by the Soviet Government against what it termed "piratical attacks" on the Soviet merchant vessel "L'gov" on March 17 and the Soviet merchant vessel "Baku" during the night of March 26-27 near Cuba. The notes asserted that although the attacks were perpetrated

The Current Digest of the Soviet Press, vol. XV, No. 13, Apr. 24, 1963, pp.

23-24.

7

8

Supra.

Department of State press release No. 170 (text as printed in the Department of State Bulletin, Apr. 22, 1963, pp. 599–600).

Text in The Current Digest of the Soviet Press, vol. XV, No. 13, Apr. 24, 1963,

by Cuban counter-revolutionary groups, the United States Government encourages such activities and bears full responsibility for them. The United States Government categorically rejects this charge. It wishes to remind the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics that immediately after the recent attacks on Soviet merchant vessels an official spokesman stated that the United States Government is strongly opposed to, and is in no way associated with, such attacks.11 This position was furthermore clearly set forth by President Kennedy in his press conference of March 21.12 The United States Government. is taking every step necessary to insure that such attacks are not launched, manned or equipped from U.S. territory.

In taking vigorous action to prevent misuse of its territory, the Government of the United States trusts that the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics will not misinterpret such action as indicating any change in United States opposition to Soviet military involvement in Cuba.

21 Ante, doc. III-23.

12

See Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, 1963, pp. 277–278.

Part VII

THE NEAR AND MIDDLE EAST

VII-1

UNITED STATES "DIRECT COMMITMENT TO STABILITY AND THE INDEPENDENCE OF NATIONS" IN THE MIDDLE EAST: Address by the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Harriman) at the Twenty-fourth American Assembly, Arden House, New York City, October 26, 1963 (Excerpts)1

Over the past three days you have been reviewing in detail the problems of the Middle East and I am sure you found a lot to talk about and disagree about. One subject of particular significance is the interaction between the Arab states and Israel which was so long the dominant issue in the Middle East. Other, newer issues also call for our attention today..

3

There is a new ferment of nationalism. There are disputes between Arab states, differences between Baathists and advocates of President Nasser, revolutionary activity by the Kurds, tribal warfare in Yemen' and tensions in the African states which adjoin the Middle Eastern area. There have been incursions or reports of incursions and fire fights along the Lebanese-Syrian border and the Jordanian-Israeli border, as well as on the Egyptian-Israeli border, and the Syrian-Israeli border. Thus the pessimists if they look at the Middle East would find the basis for gloom.

I am not among them. The disputes and border incidents I have mentioned are real enough. They are regrettable. Naturally, we are anxious that they be avoided; that when they do occur they be limited geographically, that they be terminated as rapidly as possible; and that measures be taken to prevent their recurrence. To these ends, we have supported and continue to provide fullest appropriate assistance to the United Nations Truce Supervisory Organization (UNTSO)* with headquarters in Jerusalem and UNEF, as well as to the UN

1

Excerpts printed in Department of State press release No. 553, Oct. 25, 1963. See post, docs. VII-8-15.

3 Adherents of the Baath or Arab Socialist Renaissance Party, influential in Iraq and Syria.

See post, docs. VII-25-39.

5 See post, docs. VII-10-11.

6 See ibid.

7 See post, docs. VII-12-15.