123–Kennan, George F.: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Secretary of State, at Rome1
priority
Telac 49. Personal for the Secretary from Webb. Now that the ques of George Kennan succeeding Kirk as Amb to Moscow has received wide and favorable publicity and has in effect been confirmed by President’s comment,2 we feel that no time shld be lost in requesting agreement. Kennan strongly favors this move. He will be in Paris Wednesday and cld discuss with Amb Kirk.
While we do not of course know Soviet reaction, a long delay before official request for agrément might result in propaganda attacks on Kennan which cld make acceptance impossible and even request by us out of ques. Our recommendation wld be to request immediately Soviet agrément through Emb Moscow, formal written [Page 1674] request to be in usual form but Chargé in presenting to add orally that possible assignment will not be effective for some time. We wld announce appointment upon receipt agrément with similar appropriate indication as to probable delay Kennan arrival post. Kennan as you know probably cld not proceed to Moscow before April. We see no objection to delay provided agrément has been received and his appointment made official. Wld appreciate your comments.3
- Repeated to Paris personal for Ambassador Kirk. Drafted by Bohlen who cleared it with G and EUR. Secretary Acheson was in Rome for the Sixth Session of the North Atlantic Council, November 26–30.↩
- During a brief meeting with correspondents in Key West on November 20, President Truman commented briefly on press reports that George F. Kennan might be named the next American Ambassador in the Soviet Union. President Truman observed that Kennan would make a good ambassador. Also on November 20, a spokesman for the Department of State informed the press that Kennan would return from his leave at the Institute for Advanced Studies at Princeton University about May 1952 and that one of the posts for which he was being considered was that of Ambassador in the Soviet Union. The spokesman added that Kennan’s definite assignment at the time he returned to the Department of State had not been fixed. (Department of State Wireless Bulletin, November 20, 1951, No. 282, p. 8)↩
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In telegram Actel 26 from Rome, November 28, Secretary Acheson replied as follows:
“Concur in desirability requesting Kennan’s agrément. Would suggest that oral comments on request not indicate that assignment will be long delayed, for fear Moscow will use as reason for delay in giving agrément. Suggest Russians be told date of assignment uncertain but that we hope it can be effected soon as possible.” (123–Kennan, George F.)
A similar comment was made by Ambassador Kirk in telegram 3198 from Paris, November 29. (123–Kennan, George) Acting on instructions from the Department of State, Chargé Cumming presented the formal request for Kennan’s agrément to Soviet Acting Foreign Minister Gromyko on December 1. The Soviet Government expressed its agreement to Kennan’s appointment on December 19. On December 26 Presidential Press Secretary Joseph Short announced in Kansas City that President Truman had reluctantly agreed to accept the resignation of Ambassador Kirk and intended to nominate Kennan as his successor. Short explained that the agrément of the Soviet Government to Kennan’s appointment has been sought and received in the usual manner and his nomination would be presented to the Senate in due course. (Telegram 443 to Moscow December 26, 123–Kirk, Alan G.)
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