Unofficial Translation of Letter from Premier Khrushchev to President Kennedy, October 27, 1962

No. 8 UNOFFICIAL TRANSTATION CF LETTER FROM PREMIER KHRUSHCHEV TO PRESIDENT KENNEDY October 27, 1962 Esteemed Mr. President: I have learned with great pleasure of your reply to Mr. Thant to the effect that steps will be taken to exclude contact between our ships and thus avoid irremediable fate- ful consequences. This reasonable step on your part strengthens my belief that you are showing concern to safeguard peace and I note this with satisfaction. "I have already said that our people, our Government and I personally, as Chairman of the Council of Ministers, are concerned solely that our countries should develop and occupy a worthy place among all peoples of the world in economic com- petition, in the development of culture and the arts, in raising the well being of the people. This is the most noble and necessary field for competition and victors as well as vanquished will only gain from it because it means peace and increased commodities for the life and enjoyment of man. In your statement you supported the opinion that the main aim was, not only to come to an agreement and to take measures to prevent contact between our ships, and therefore the deepening of the crisis which may as a result of such a con- tact strike the fire of a military conflict, after which all talks would be superfluous, because other forces and other laws would come into force, the laws of war. I agree with you that this is only the first step. The main thing that must be done is to normalize and stabilize the state of peace among states, among peoples. I understand your concern for the security of the U.S.A. Mr. President, because this is the first duty of a President. But we are worried about the same questions: and I bear the same obligations, as Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR You have been worried concerning the fact that we have helped Cuba with weapons, with the aim to strengthen its defensive capacity -- yes, precisely its "defensive capacity," because no matter what weapons it possesses, Cuba eannot equal you: because these are different quantities, all the more so if one takes into consideration the modern means of extermination. Our aim