Telegram from Ambassador Alan Kirk to Secretary of State Dean Acheson

Korea RETURN TO RE INCOMING TELEGRAM Department of State RE TELEGRAPH BRANCH PLAIN Control: 3684 Rec'd: October 10, 1950 Moscow 6:12 a.m. TO: Secretary of State 845, October 10. PRIORITY Following text of announcement published today's press con- cerning Soviet note on alleged strafing Soviet airdrome. "On October 9 Deputy Minister Foreign Affairs USSR, Gromyko IF received Minister Counselor Embassy USA Moscow, Barbour and PA transmitted him following note having read text of note pre- FE liminarily: DCR "Government of USSR considers necessary to state to government of USA following. On October 8 at 16 hours 17 minutes, local time, two fighters of Air Forces USA of type "Shooting Star" (F-80) grossly violated state frontiers of USSR and approach- ing on close-shaving flight a Soviet airdrome located on sea- coast in region of Sukhaya Rechka, 100 kilometers from Soviet Korean frontier, strafed airdrome with machine guns. As re- sult of strafing damage was inflicted on property of airdrome. In connection with these provocatory acts of American Air Force expressed in gross violation by American military planes of state frontier of USSR and in strafing of Soviet airdrome, Soviet Government makes decisive protest to Government of US. Soviet Government insists on strict punishment of persons re- sponsible for attack on Soviet airdrome and expects assurances from Government of USA that it will take necessary measures for prevention of such provocatory acts in future. Soviet Government considers necessary to state that responsi- bility for consequences of such acts on part of aviation of USA lies entirely on Government of USA. Barbour stated that necessary allegedly take up this matter with UN since Armed Forces UN operating in region Korea. On this pretext Barbour refused accept note. Gromyko pointed out complete lack foundation arguments of Barbour since in note Soviet Government subject is strafing Soviet PLAIN REPRODUCTION OF THIS MESSAGE IS PROHIBITEN