ET - 18787 DEPARTMENT OF STATE NOV 25 1969 TO The Under Secretary THROUGH s s FROM EUR - George S Springs SUBJECT F-0'her Approach on Moscow Microwave Signal TUMS -- ACTION MEMORANDUM n Ac t±p g f Y DISCUSSION It seems evident that the Soviets will continue to deny the existence of any special beam of microwave radiation directed against the rear wall of our Chancery building in Moscow and that they will stand on the oral statement passed to Ambassador Beam on August 19 and discussed further with him on November 6 Moscow telegrams 4343 and 6226 attached as TABS Band c The statement nevertheless proposed a joint investigation of the radiation In addition to considering what our next move vis-a-vis the Soviets should be we should also take account of the possibility that the existence of the beam may become public knowledge and aired in the American press This possibility arises because the existence of the signal has become known to some Embassy personnel now serving in Moscow or who have served tours there in the past As you are aware an employee who served in Moscow during the period 1960-62 filed a claim with the Bureau of Employees' Compensation contending that the signal was responsible for the development of cancer by his wife The employee's NODIS REVIEW al A • aplion removed t an lcrred to 0 FADRC Cc n B T c n icrred to O FADRC v 1 alllli i n ll oc ess cw L€d by S I S GROUP 1 Excluded from automatic downgrading and declassification h cRET ' I S T - NODIS ' -2- wife died some months ago and we understand that the claim which was being processed on a classified basis is not being pressed at the moment We see no way at this time of persuading the Soviets to terminate the signal Our inability to determine the exact purpose of the beam and the absence of any conclusive evidence that the level of radiation has had harmful effects on Embassy personnel tend to weaken our case Nevertheless the uncertainties surrounding this issue dictate that we should not drop this matter entirely but let it be known that we reserve the right to raise the matter in the future as circumstances may warrant Therefore we propose that Ambassador Beam make a further approach to the Soviets to express our continuing concern over the directional beam and our regret that the Soviet authorities have not responded in a satisfactory manner to the facts of the radiation as presented to them Ambassador Beam would further reserve the right to raise the issue again and note the ever-present possibility of publicity damaging to our relations We believe the foregoing alternative commends itself over others which we considered For example one option might be to drop the matter entirely and to make no further representations to the Soviets We reject this option because we believe it important that the Soviets be informed that we reserve the right to renew representations and that their responses to date remain unsatisfactory An0ther possibility considered was to pursue the dialogue by agreeing to a joint investigation We concluded in this connection that we should not grant the Soviets access to our chancery with special instruments and that it would be a simple matter in any event for the Soviets to turn off the signal for the duration of any tests to which they agreed Thirdly thought was given to our initiating a publicity campaign with a view to pressuring the Soviets to discontinue the beam By initiating publicity however we would stimulate a Soviet suspicion that we were deliberately exacerbating ET - NODIS relations over what the Soviets regard as a minor issue we also doubt that publicity could change the Soviet position Finally we could escalate the representations to your level or that of the Secretary This we believe is probably unwarranted as long as we are unable to demonstrate that a dangerous level of radiation is present In the past other options were considered and rejected for reasons with which we still agree These additional options were 1 to install and activate equipment which would continuously jam the signal 2 to advise the Soviets that unless the signal ceases some other negotiations with them will be discontinued such as the arrangements for the construction of new embassies here and in Moscow and 3 to illuminate the Russian Embassy in Washington with a signal similar to the Moscow signal A memorandum addressed to the United States Intelligence Board discusses these options in detail--TAB D Following Ambassador Beam's next approach we would of course continue periodic monitoring of the signal to detect any unusual or heightened activity RECOMMENDATION That you approve the attached cable TAB A to Ambassador Beam containing instructions for another approach to the Soviets as well as suggested contingency press guidance should existence of the Moscow signal suddenly become general knowledge and aired publicly Approve Disapprove - NODIS E T - NODIS -4- Clearances 0 SY - Mr Gentile in draft %1 PER MED - Dr y d e draft w EUR - Mr Swan Attachments TAB A TABB TAB C TAB D - Draft telegram to Moscow NODIS Telegram from Moscow 4343 NODIS Telegram from Moscow 6226 NODIS Memorandum for the U S Intelligence Board TOP SECRET EUR SOV AD t%-s erk 11 25 69 X 23738 1-- c - t U S GO VERNMENT P R I NTING OFFICE IIIH-121-4111 Department of State ··· CHARG E ·J TELEGRAM INDI CATE O c o L L EC T • 2 U U 9 ·' 0 TO 36z NODlS REV DISTRIBUTION Arnembassy MOSCOW ACTION STATE 200910 NODIS Cat A ption removed t oru fcrred to O FADRC Cut B - T1cns c1red to O FADRC w1tll addi ion1l access cc Jl rolled by S S Cat C - Capti' ln anJ CLIStody zctat1cd by S S 7 Reviewed by Date FOR AMBASSADOR REFERENCES 1 I Moscow's 4343 Moscow's 6226 ·1 It appears evident from Soviet oral statement of ·1 l August 19 and your conversation of November 6 with Kornienko that Soviets will continue to deny existence of any special signal of microwave radiation directed against Embassy and that they will stand pat on various aspects of position that they have maintained in past Soviets no doubt believe t hat they are in fairly good position as long as radiation level in vicinity of Embassy remains far below danger level recognized by U S Government 2 After having considered various alternatives as to _J RA -TE D B Y CRAFTING 0 AT E EUR SOV ADuos erk EUR _ Mr swan EUR - Mr Springate cC · - -Nc-o 11 25 69 TE L EX T 23738 A PPR OV E D B V The Under Secretary O SY - Mr Gentile draft PER I - Dr Nydel draftJ'tI 11 S S - Mr Brewster ljJ Fr1t- ·r _ NOnTR f'lt - - - - - - - - - - CORRECTIONS MADE ON THIS ORIGINAL M B1 f l D ON AU BEFORE THE TELEGRAM IS DELIVERED TO OC T A _Room 62 Q___ _ Page_2__ of telegram to _M_O_S_C_O_W --_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ T - NODIS Clilssi ica tio11 I how we should proceed we concluded that most prudent course to 7 follow would be to reiterate once more that we reserve right to return to this question in future 3 You should therefore call on Kornienko following his return from Helsinki and express to him our continuing concern over the harassment being carried on in form of the directional beam and note our regret that Soviet authorities have not responded in a satisfactory manner to facts of radiation as you had presented them to Ministry of Foreign Affairs You should state that USG reserves right to raise this issue again and note ever-present possibility of publicity which could cause unnecessary complications and damage to our relations 4 If Kornienko asks about proposal regarding joint investigation you sk x should note that investigation would make little sense as long · as Soviets refuse to permit investigation of signal source which we have clearly identified during actual period of operation FYI We do not of course wish to permit Soviet access to Embassy chancery with special instruments and equipment END FYI S In event existence of signal becomes public knowledge and Embassy or d Department are queried about it we propose with your L fl'' u concurrence o reply along following lines - - - - - SE ET - NODIS _j MCGREGOR PAINTING COFH' OllATION 12• ee CORRECTIONS MADE ON THIS ORIGINAL MUST BE MADE ON All COPIES - - - - - - - - ------ BEFORE TH ELEGRAM IS DELIVERED T9 QC TIA Ro §243 ------- - Page_ 3 _ _ of telegram to MOSCOW --------------------------ssi icatio ' a Since mid-1950SSoviet authorities have indeed beamed 7 microwave signal against rear wall of U S chancery building in Moscow Full investigation of this signal was conducted i - especially concerned over possibility that microwave radiation could have harmful biomedical effects on Embassy personnel who served in exposed positions in our chancery Investigations to date have not provided - e v i d e n c e that the radiation level which has remained below danger levels recognized by U S has proved harmful to American Embassy personnel Nevertheless this form of harassmen has led the USG to make repeated protests to the Soviet Government Soviet authorities have denied consistently that a special beam is directed against the Embassy and have maintained that investigations by the Soviets indicated that there was no radiated signal in the vicinity of the U S · Embassy about which we need be concerned The Soviet Government has also suggested _ in reply to our protests that signals which we were intercepting likely emanated from instruments in use in research laboratories or establishments in the area close to the Embassy The Soviet Government further claims that any radiation in the vicinity of L _J I MCGncoon PntNT I NG COlll'On A TION ·•· CORRECTIONS MADE ON THIS OR IG fNAl MUST BE MADE ON All COPIES BEFORE THE TELEGRAM IS DELIVERED TO OC T A Room 6243 the Embassy is only a tiny fraction of the danger levels established by the U S and well below Sovie t b 7 s tandards The USG continues to monitor this signal and has reserved the right to make further approaches to the Soviet Government on this matter should circumstances warrant GP-1 END RICHARDSON L _J TO DISTRIBUTION ' ACTION Amemba_s sy 'Moscow· STATE ' f • •· _ c· · FOR AMBASSAOOR REFERENCES 1 It appears evident f rom Soviet oral statement of '' t aspects of position tha t they hav e main t ined in ' _ '· - Soviets no - oubt beiieve that they lJ 1' • - _ - -_ · I · position as long as radiation level in vicinity of Embassy remains far below danger level recognized by •' '·• -i U S Government 2 · After having considered various alternatives as to 'P c CRAFTED BV • CRAFTING CATE EUR sov ADu s ' • - erk • - TEL EXT ·11 25 69 · 23739 APPROVE a av The Under 9ecretary · • Mr Swan 0 SY - r e tile draft springst e PERV _ Dr Nydel ' draftrr rv S S '- - Mr • Brewster u •• • at - • I j J - NOOIS ' t· - · -4 ' _ - t - - - -- • Departnzent of State SECRET 1915122 AUG 69 FM A EMBASSY MOSCOW TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3691 BT R 4 343 · S E C DIS SU3JECT TWMS REF MOSCO 19 9 AUGUST 19 PM l 28 cl A _ c l FOR THE UNDER SECRETARY 4 3 7 6 Q NODIS REVIEW apllcn removed tran lened to 0 FADRC z T1c n lcrrcd to 0 FADij C v it' 1 a dcli1i nol access c n·r llcd by S ' S C C c •'i-'n nJ cust dy zztJinf d 1 y S S Reviewed by Ambas ad r V Witman ll 19' -- D atc - P _ 1 STATE CHIEF MFA AMERICAN DEPARTMENT CKORNIYENKO ASKED ME TO CALL TODAY SINCE DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER KUZNETSOV STILL OUT Or TOWN DLOSSON ACCOMPANIED ME I 2 REFERRING TO MY MEETING WITH GROMYKO ON MAY 26 ON TUMS ORNIYENKO READ OP L STATEMENT TEST BELOW WHICH HE SAID KUZENTSOV HAD WISHED TO GIVE ME STATEMENT DENIES ANY SPECIAL BEAM IS DIRECTED AT EMBASSY THAT IN ANY CASE RADIATION LEVEL SURROUNDING EMBASSY IS MUCH LOWER THAN SAFETY STANDARDS ACKNOWLEDGED IN WASHJNGTON AND AGAIN PROPOSES A JOINT INVESTIGATION INCLUDING INSIDE THE EMBASSY 3 I TOLD KORNIYENKO THAT OUR FINDINGS WERE DIFFERENT I GAVE HI AGRAM SHOWING HOW BEAM IS DIRECTED FROM NEARBY SOVIET APARTMENT AT THE OFFICE SECTION OF THE CHANCERY AND EXPLAINED THAT RADIO - M COVERS FROM THE THIRD TO THE TENTH FLOOR oF THE CHANCEB _Y I ASSED OVER HIS PROPOSAL FOR A JOINT INVESTIGATION POINTING OUT WE WERE PRESENTING NEW SPECIFIC EVIDENCE 4 KORNIYENKO AT FIRST TRIED TO DISMISS PATTERN OF BEAM AND THEN RETURNING TO THEME THAT SOVIET SCIENTISTS MAINTAIN THERE IS NO DANGER FOR HUMANS ASKED WHY WE WERE DISTRESSED I REP IED THAT THE BEAM JS A LOW-ENERGY HIGH FREQUNECY SIGf-ML AND WE CANNOT BE CERIAIN ABOUT ITS LONG-TERM EFFECTS I POINTED OUT THAT SIMILAR ENERGY RAYS IN EXPERIMENTS ON ANIMALS HAD BROUGHT ABOUT PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES I ALSO MENTIONED THAT A FORMER EMABSSY EMPLOYEE WHOSE WIFE HAD RECENTLY DIED OF CNACER WAS BRINGING SUIT ON THE GROUNDS THAT THE SOVIET SIGNAL HAD CAUSED HER ILLNESS I REMINDED HIM THAT WE HAD TREATED THE EXISTENCE OF THE SOVIET RADIO BEAM IN STRICTEST CONFIDENCE BUT THAT WE COULD NOT GUARNTEE THERE WOULD BE NO PUBLICITIY BECAUSE OF NUMBER OF P RSONS RETURNING TO WASHINGTON WHO HAD KNOWLEDGE OF IT KORIYENKo·s REJOINDER WAS SIMPLY THAT SOVIET MEDICAL SPECIALISTS HAD EXCLUDED ANY POSSIBILITY OF DANGER TO HUMANS 5 IACONCLUDED BY ASKING IHAI HIS SPECIALISTS STUDY THE DIAGRAM OF IHE SIGNAL THAT I HAD GIVEN HIM SE'cRtT _ _ 1 ' -z- - • l'l C SCOW 43 43 NO DIS 6 TS _T OE SOVI T OR L ST ATS ME NT IS AS FOLLOWS BEGIN QUOTE IN CO NNE TION WITH THE RAISING ONCE AGAI N BY You IN A CONVERSATION WITH MINISTER A A GROMYKO OF THE QUESTION CONCERNING ALLEGED IP ADIATIO N OBLYCHENIE OF THE BUILDING OF THE USA EMBASSY IN oscow BY RADIO WAVES A THOROUGH VERIFICATION WAS REPEATEDLY CONDUCTED THE RESULTS OF WHICH CONFIRMED THAT NO SPECIALLY DIRECTED RADIO IRRADIATION OF THE EMBASSY BUILDING IS CARRIED ON 7 THE PRESENCE OF A DEFINITE LEVEL OF RADIO IRRADIATION IN THE AREA OF THE EMBASSY IS EXPLAI ED BY THE WORK OF RADIO ELECTRONIC APPARATUSES OF DIFFERENT INSTITUlES AND LABORATORIES LOCATED NEAR THE EMBASSY THIS LEVEL DOES NOT REPRESENT HOWEVER ANY DANGER TO THE HEALTH OF PEOPOLE MOREOVER IT IS MANY TIMES LESS THAN THOSE NORMS OF IRRADIATION BY RADIO WAVES WHICH ARE ACKNOWLEDGED IN THE USA AS COMPLETELY SAFE 8 INASMUCH AS THE EMBASSY HAS AGAI RETURNED TO THIS QUESTION WE · RENEW OUR PROPOSAL THAT SOVIET AND AMERICANS JOINTLY CONDUCT MEASURE• MENTS OF THE LEVEL OF RADIO IRRADIATION IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THE EMBASSY BUILDI G AND ALSO INSIDE THE BUILDING END QUOTE 9 COMMENT PURLICITY ON TUMS WILL PROBABLY BREAK EVENTUALLY AND I DO NOT SEE HOW OR WHY WE SHOULD PROTECT SOVIETS IF IT COMES THEIR OBVIOUS DEFENSE WILL BE THAT WE ARE DECLINING THEIR OFFER OF A JOINT INVESTIGATION WHICH OF COURSE WOULD MAKE LITTLE SENSE BECAUSE THEY CAN EASILY ARRANGE THAT THERE WltL BE NOTHING TO INVESTI• GATE I DID NOT HOWEVER CATEGORICALLY REJECT THEIR PROPOSAL AND BY SUBMITTI - JG NEW EVIDENCE _LEFT ANl OPENING TO GO BACK TO THEM AGAIN IF THAT FAILS IT WILL BECOME A QUESTION OF COMPARATIVE CREDIBILITY WITH OUR RECORD BEING THE MORE CONVINCING 10 I CAN DISCUSS MATTER PRIVATELY WITH DOBRYNIN ·aEFOR HIS RETURN AS WAS DONE IN THE PAST AND SECRETARY MAY CONSIDER TAKING IT UP WITH GROMYKO IN NEW YOR AS SECRETARY RUSK DID IN 1967 IN MEANTIME WE SHOULD GO AHEAD WITH PREPARING THE RECORD GP•3• BEAM I CM Depart1n nt of State J l Anb1 s l Contro 1 Recd R 061530Z NOV 69 FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW TO SECSTATE WASHOC 4945 126 9Q 6 Nov 69 11 40 a m BT SECRET MOSCOW 6226 OD SUBJECT TUMS REF STATE 145635 AND MOSCOW 4343 t THIS AFTERNOON I ASKED KORNIYENKO WHETHER SOVIET EXPERTS HAD STUDIED OUR DIAGRAM OF DIRECTIONAL BEAM AND WHAT WERE THEIR CONCLUSIONS 2 HE SAID SOVIET SPECIALISTS HAD MADE NEW INVESTIGATION WHICH REVEALED THAT NO ELECTRONIC BEAM WAS DIRECTED AGAINST EMBASSY AND THAT RADIATION LEVEL IN THE VICINITY WAS HARMLESS 3 I SAID I WOULD REPORT HIS ANSWER MATTER WAS MYSTERY IN VIEW OF FIMNESS OF EVIDENCE WE HAD AND I RESERVED RIGHT TO RETURN ·TO IT AGAIN 4 I DID NOT GIVE KORNIYENKO A TIME CHART OF SIGNAL WHICH OUR EXPERTS HAD PREPARED SINCE SPORADIC NATURE OF EMISSIONS APPEARED TO ME LESS CONVINCING THAT DIRECTIONAL DIAGRAM CHART WILL BE POUCHED WASHINGTON GP-4 BEAM BT A • tl n re cv d · an lcr ed to O FADRC C' t l3 · Trcn lc rr d l' O FADRC with a d h i ccl access cc n rcik' by Si S Co t C Ctcp li cnJ c t t c y r a ciuc d Ly S S r I '- RGvfowed l· • D- llc A nl as ador V WiL-nan ll _ _ ___ _l9' Copy from the National Archives Record Group 59 General Records of the Department of State 1967-69 SUBJECT-NUMERIC FILE File BG 13 MOSCOW