1579. For Secretary from McCloy. Department pass White House. Immediately after I received from you President's instructions, Akalovsky at my request informed Kuznetsov along following lines:
1. In absence international inspection personnel, such as ICRC, US prepared make gesture re quarantine. While quarantine in full will start tomorrow, we prepared let ships pass on hail-and-pass basis, as in case Sov tanker Bucharest, i.e., no inspection on board vessels would be involved. We prepared use this procedure for a few days until more solid basis for inspection of ships is developed.
2. Re aerial surveillance, US believes it would be good for everybody if evidence were obtained that dismantling of relevant facilities has started, i.e., if we could show to world pictures attesting to that fact. We hope USSR would do everything to avoid incidents in connection our overflights, because any such incident would create gravest situation and would again put us face to face.
Kuznetsov appreciated information, but with respect to second point stated USSR could not do anything because anti-aircraft defense was in Cuban hands. US was facing Kuznetsov with problem where he could do nothing because problem related to Cuban territory and sovereignty. Akalovsky observed USSR could use its influence with Cuba in order prevent incidents fraught with gravest danger. Kuznetsov replied he could not add anything to what he had already said.
Stevenson
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.3722/10-3162. Confidential; Eyes Only. Received in the Department of State at 10:59 p.m.