American Notes Diplomacy

Why do the Soviet missions to the United Nations in New York City employ more people than the next two biggest delegations, those of the U.S. and China, combined? Because, Washington bluntly charged last week, many of the supposed Soviet diplomats are really spies. The accusation was contained in an equally blunt order: over the next two years, Moscow's three missions (two officially represent the Ukrainian and Belorussian Soviet Republics) must reduce their staffs from a present total of 275 to 170. The Soviets may choose who stays and who goes; if they do not, the U.S. will make the decision by denying diplomatic visas. |

Although no specific incident prompted the order, the Administration has been disturbed by Soviet espionage in the U.S. and is seeking to cut it down. The timing of the order may have another purpose: Washington is annoyed by what it regards as Kremlin stalling in arranging a follow-up to the Geneva summit that is supposed to be held in the U.S. this year, and is seizing on various methods to signal displeasure. If so, Moscow seemed equally displeased: the Soviet news agency TASS called the U.N. restriction an attempt to prevent any thaw in U.S.-Soviet relations.