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September 8, 1961

Record of a Conversation Between N. S. Khrushchev and Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister of India

In this conversation, Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev discuss the urgent need for disarmament and the global threat posed by nuclear weapons. Nehru stresses the catastrophic consequences of nuclear war and advocates for international efforts to reduce tensions and promote peace. Khrushchev reaffirms the Soviet Union's commitment to peace and disarmament but defends the resumption of Soviet nuclear testing as necessary to deter Western aggression and ensure national security. The discussion also covers recent speeches by Western leaders, the ongoing arms race, and a confidential letter Khrushchev received from US diplomat John McCloy regarding disarmament negotiations, which both leaders agree merits further consideration as a potential path forward.

September 7, 1961

Memorandum of Conversation of N.S. Khrushchev with the Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru

Nikita Khrushchev and Jawaharlal Nehru discuss global disarmament, the Soviet Union's resumption of nuclear weapons testing, and the ongoing tensions surrounding Berlin. Khrushchev defends Soviet nuclear tests as a necessary response to perceived Western threats and the failure of disarmament talks, asserting that such actions are essential to safeguard the USSR and the socialist bloc. He reassures Nehru that access to West Berlin will remain unobstructed after the signing of a peace treaty with East Germany, though the legal basis would shift from occupation rights to agreements with the GDR. Both leaders emphasize their shared commitment to disarmament, but Nehru voices concerns that continued nuclear testing may derail global peace efforts and delay meaningful progress toward disarmament.