February or May.
6. The Secretary of State has approved the idea that
he should make a short visit to Warsaw on his way to
or from Moscow (whenever that may be). The Poles
would almost certainly be content with any date.
So this is a factor which need not count either way.
The arguments in favour of February do not seem
strong enough to outweigh the Secretary of State's
preference for May.
RECOMMENDATION
7. I recommend that HM Ambassador in Moscow be
authorised to tell Gromyko that having looked at his
programme the Secretary of State would like to take
up his outstanding invitation to visit the Soviet Union
in May 1972. The Ambassador should ask which week
in the month would be most suitable for the Soviet side.
I submit a draft telegram to Moscow.
8.