bout de papier, Vol. 16, No. 2 (1999) — Summer 1999 // Été 1999, pp. 18–19
Geoffrey Pearson served as Canada’s Ambassador to Moscow from 1980 to 1983. Following is the text of his reporting telegram to Ottawa on his presentation of letters of credential ceremony, and Landon Pearson’s letter home on the post-credentials reception. Viewed through the prism of 1999 and the loosening of relations with the Russians in the post Cold War-period, these reports provide interesting insight into the temperature of the times, in terms of Soviet relations with the West and Western diplomats, about dealing with Soviet bureaucrats, and about the challenges inevitably faced by Canadians on a Moscow posting at the time.
Pearson communication to DFAIT:
1. Presented credentials yesterday to First Deputy Chairman Kuznetsov, who was accompanied by the Secretary to the Presidium and Dr. Zemskov. As per custom, I handed over my statement, intoning first and last sentences and short summary of it as follows: Quote My Gov’t has sent me to Moscow with the sincere wish that relations between CDA and the USSR be strengthened on the basis of mutual interest and of greater trust and confidence between nations.
Unquote.
2. Above three and interpreter then spent about 35/35 minutes with me in earnest conversation, or rather Kuznetsov and I exchanged stiff but friendly remarks, mostly on disarmament, punctuated by one interjection from Zemskov (who eyed me the whole time rather as a cat must contemplate an inexperienced mouse) about how he would be glad to follow up with me on any of the subjects raised. Secretary to the Presidium, who attends about thirty of these ceremonies a year, betrayed no/no sign of interest at any stage.
3. Summary of discussion follows in separate tel. Deputy Chief of Protocol (his boss was occupied with visiting Ethiopian leader) accompanied me back to Emb in very large Kremlin car and stayed for Coupe de Champagne. Members of Second European Division, two Foreign Trade Officials, two members of USA/CDA Institute and DM of Fisheries also attended reception, Deputy Chief and Sukhodrev of MFA resplendent in diplomatic uniforms. The head of Second European Division, Suslov, was absent due to illness (some said a heart attack). I was informed with satisfaction by Zolotov of MFA that my interview with Kyznetsov lasted five minutes longer than similar talk with USA Amb last year. All in all, and considering my chat with Gromyko last week, Sovs clearly interested in pursuing better relations with CDA. From our point of view, now may be a good time to extract whatever advantage we can from situation. Sovs must know too that if international weather closes in again (and I have made point to them that they exercise far more control over this than we do), fine words now will count for little.
Pearson.
Landon Pearson’s letter home:
“However, let me tell you about the presentation of credentials which was the big event of last week. It was supposed to be last Wednesday at 11 and then it was postponed at the last minute to four in the afternoon which threw everything out because the ceremony has to be followed by a “coupe de champagne”, for the Russian officials and we were also planning to have a big reception that evening at five for all the staff, Canadian and Russian, and that meant a lot of people. So I told Tamara and Nikolai that I would have to postpone the reception until the next day and they just laughed! “Nitchevo” they said, it doesn’t matter. And, apparently people really do get used to these last minute changes and do not worry about them because they happen all the time. Anyway, he (Geoffrey) is now an “ambassador, extraordinary and plenipotentiary” properly accredited. They tell me that the ceremony was quite impressive although I was not allowed to attend. Geoffrey and his officers all looked extremely proper in their pin-stripped suits except for Ann Leahy who rejected pin stripes in favour of a dark blue knit. The rest of the Embassy staff crowded around to see them off to the Kremlin in the official cars… After all, it is the first time in 17 years that a Canadian Ambassador has presented his credentials here! He looked in fact, very distinguished. There was some comment because he had at least 5 minutes longer with Mr. Kutnetzov, (the deputy chairman of the Praesidium to whom he actually made his presentation because he accepts most of the ceremonial tasks of Chief of State) in private conversation than had had the American Ambassador… and that’s what people speculate about in Moscow, a sort of reading of the entrails, as it were, in the absence of other more solid information. I am showing you a copy of the article as it appeared in Isvestia to show that the “truth” occasionally appears in that newspaper. In fast we, at the Embassy, sometimes get checked for accuracy. They sent Geoffrey’s biography over to protocol who sent back a correction. The Embassy had given his birth date as Dec. 27 and they knew better. Anyway, after the “coupe de champagne” to which I was invited after all, because it was in the Embassy and at which we met quite a few Soviet officials we went off to the Turkish National Day, flying the flag for the first time.”
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Originally published in bout de papier, Vol. 16, No. 2 (1999) — Summer 1999 // Été 1999, pp. 18–19. Read the rest of this issue →
