Draft of a Letter to Gamal Abdel Nasser from N. S. Khrushchev, 29 September 1958

DRAFT OF A LETTER TO GAMAL ABDEL NASSER FROM N. S. KHRUSHCHEV, 29 September 1958

TO THE CPSU CC PRESIDIUM

Cde. Mukhitdinov provided information about his trip to the United Arab Republic. He said that Nasser asked several times where Cde. Khrushchev was vacationing, whether a flight there was possible, what were the flight conditions, etc. Obviously, by this he let it be known that he would like to come to our country to vacation and to talk with the Soviet leaders.

We think that [we] ought to send Nasser a letter of an unofficial nature.

The draft letter is attached.

If the members of the Presidium have not objections then this letter ought to be sent to Nasser through our Ambassador in Cairo.

N. KHRUSHCHEV

[handwritten:

A. Mikoyan

N. Mukhitdinov

N. Podgornyy

B. Ponomarev

A. Grechko]

28 September 1958

Dear Gamal Abdel Nasser!

We have just heard with great pleasure from Cde. Mukhitdinov, who told of his trip to Egypt and conversations with you, Marshal Amer, and your other friends. Evidently you simply charmed our Cde. Mukhitdinov because right now he talks only about the United Arab Republic and is under a great impression from everything he saw and heard in your country.

I admit that I heard him with great satisfaction and with some envy. And this envy is understandable, of course. But unfortunately I did not have the opportunity to visit you before Cde. Mukhitdinov.

I got an idea which I would like to express to you. Is it not suitable at the present time to fulfill your promise to vacation on the shore of the Black Sea, in Crimea or the coast of the Caucasus[?] If you have the opportunity right now I will be glad to meet you and to vacation together. I am thinking of going from Crimea to coast of the Caucasus in a day or two. It is warmer there than in Crimea. If you have the opportunity and the desire [entered by hand: and opportunity] then I invite you to come to us with [your] family, with friends, with everyone whom you want to take with you.

Cde. Mukhitdinov, who is filled with a feeling of fraternal friendship for you, has developed the impression that you are working intensely, not sparing your health, and very much in need of a vacation. Indeed, and all the people who work honestly need and have the right to rest. You have honestly earned this rest.

I allow myself right now to turn to you with such an offer because when we talked the last time and I suggested that you or your family vacation in our country, you replied that the situation was so heated that it was undesirable for you or your family to go abroad. Your considerations at that time were correct. Now these consideration have given way to our common work. The enemies of peace, the imperialists, have suffered a new defeat in the Near East. They have had to swallow a bitter pill in the form of a revolution in Iraq, as a result of which the front of the national liberation movement against imperialism and nationalism has broadened.

We think that the international situation right now is developing favorably in favor of the countries fighting for peace and for their national independence. This pleases both you and us.

I will not trouble you with a detailed presentation of these questions. I hope that we will meet in the near future and talk about all the questions which we find necessary. But you obviously have such questions, and we have [entered above by hand: will find] something to share with you.

Permit me to cordially thank you for the warm, hospitable reception which you personally and your people gave to our envoy Cde. Mukhitdinov. This will still further strengthen our friendly relations.

Allow me to also express with my whole hearted appreciation for those good wishes and greetings which you sent through Cde. Mukhitdinov to me, my friends, and the Soviet people.

I shake your hard firmly,

                                    with deep respect

N. KHRUSHCHEV

29 September 1958