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Telecon Dobrynin 12/17/70 6:10 p. m. page 3 D: Anothing thing I WO uld like to ask in connection with this. Ivanov case is in the clear and I am thankful. On the second situation, I asked x was it really on behalf of the White House or the State Depart- ment. I would like to know whether it was done with the knowledge of the White House -- the demand from us to return the Soviet citizen to the United States. It was an unbelieveable demand. It was an official de- mand from the US Government to my government. He is a Soviet citizen but the US Government demanded the return of a Soviet citizen. The reaction in Moscow would be very strong. K: Obviously there is no connection. D: It is clear now. But was it cleared by the White House? K: This is strictly between us -- I would be in great trouble if this --I was totally unaware of this and so was the President and I don't know how much of a record you want to make of this. D: It's already in Moscow -- it was sent yesterday. K: If you have such a thing as an informal communication, I recom- mend that this bek handled in a low-key manner. D: But iw it was on behalf of the US Government to the Soviet government. K: I don't know how much we want to prolong a naturally fruitless exchange D: This is what I am wondering. It is a fruitless base. It's completely hopeless and fruitless. K: Whatever one may think of what happened and the judgment involved, it is now simply an internal American matter. D: But now it comes to us. K: What can be done? We don't want to prolong an exchange on this. D: It will be dropped if you authorize me to say this was done without authorization. K: Then what would happen? D: I could say drop this issue.