CONFIDENTIAL
Flag D
6. The choice of date need not be affected by the short
visit which the Secretary of State has agreed to make to
Warsaw, either on his way to Moscow or on the way back.
The Poles would certainly be delighted to welcome the
Secretary of State either in February or in May.
7. It looks as if a visit in February would be more useful
than one in May. On the other hand it is undeniable that
Moscow is at its least attractive in February, whereas May
is one of the best months.
RECOMMENDATION
8
I recommend that HM Ambassador be authorised to tell
Mr Gromyko that having looked at his programme the Secretary
of State would like to take up his outstanding invitation to
visit to Soviet Union in February 1972. The Ambassador
should then ask which week in the month would be most.
suitable for the Soviet side, but should express a preference for the beginning of the month (in order to get in ahead of
President Nixon).
:
9.
I submit a draft telegram to Moscow.
10. WED, WOD and the geographical departments affected by
the Secretary of State's other travel plans agree.
28 July 1971
-3m
CONFIDENTIAL
J L Bullard
Eastern European & Soviet
Dept