This continues our short series of translations relating to the Intrepid Four and their handling for propaganda purposes by the Soviet Union. For further information, please refer to our first report in the series here.
Additional information on the Intrepid sailors is easily found throughout the Internet. One declassified report that offers a bit of the American point of view (from diplomatic and covert sources) can be found here, released as part of the Kennedy Assassination Records Act of 1992. It’s a worthwhile read.
Document 6: A memorandum from KGB Chairman Yu.V. Andropov to the CPSU Central Committee, 24 February 1968:
TOP SECRET
USSR COMMITTEE FOR STATE SECURITY under the COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF THE USSR
24 February 1968
No. 438-A
Moscow
To the CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE CPSU
According to available information, the Japanese “Peace for Vietnam” Committee (Beheiren) continues to actively assist American military deserters in their covert departure from Japan to third countries in order to obtain political asylum.
In early November 1967, Beheiren organized the transfer to the Soviet Union of four American sailors who had deserted from the aircraft carrier Intrepid. This February, the same committee secretly sent an American serviceman of Korean nationality to Hong Kong for subsequent movement to the DPRK.
These cases were widely and effectively used by Beheiran in its propaganda and denunciation campaign against American aggression in Vietnam, as well as to strengthen anti-war sentiment among US military personnel and encourage their refusal to participate in the Vietnam War.
The Japanese “Peace for Vietnam” committee is currently preparing for the clandestine transfer from Japan of three American servicemen who have deserted their units: Corporal T.L. Knett and Privates E.S. Arnett and F.E. Collicott. It is planned that they be moved to Europe via the Soviet Union.
The leaders of “Beheiren” plan to transport this group of Americans from Japan to the territory of the Soviet Union using their own resources.
At one of the meetings with our representative, the secretary of the “Peace for Vietnam” committee, YOSHIKAWA, requested financial support for the committee, and in particular for this event, in the amount of 200,000 yen (1,500 hard-currency equivalent rubles). At the same time, YOSHIKAWA informed us that at the end of February of this year, the chairman of the Japanese “Peace for Vietnam” committee, ODA, would be traveling to the Soviet Union and some European countries via Cambodia to establish closer contacts with European pacifist organizations advocating for Vietnam.
In light of the above, the KGB feels the following would be worth pursuing:
1. Using the KGB’s unofficial contact with the leadership of the Japanese “Peace for Vietnam” committee, provide assistance in further stepping up its activities, including financial assistance when necessary to expand propaganda work and facilitate the clandestine transfer of American military deserters from Japan to third countries.
2. The KGB will inform the secretary of the “Peace to Vietnam” committee, YOSHIKAWA, that the Soviet Union cannot currently allow the secret movement of American deserters using its means of transport. At the same time, it should be made clear that if the committee finds other means of transporting the Americans to the territory of the USSR (for example, from Hokkaido Island on Japanese fishing vessels), the Soviet side will not stand in the way.
3. Instruct the Soviet Committee of Solidarity with the Countries of Asia and Africa, on behalf of the Committee for Support of Vietnam, to receive American servicemen who have deserted from Japan, to work with them in a manner advantageous to the Soviet Union, and to ensure their departure to countries that will grant them political asylum (coordinated with Comrade ZASOKHOV).
The Committee for the Support of Vietnam is to establish close contacts with the Japanese committee “Peace for Vietnam,” making use of the anticipated visit of ODA, the chairman of that committee, to the USSR.
For its part, the KGB, through its existing unofficial channels, is ready to assist in maintaining contact with the leadership of the Japanese “Peace for Vietnam” committee, as well as in exerting influence thereon in a way that is advantageous to the Soviet Union.
The draft resolution is attached.
Please review.
KGB CHAIRMAN ANDROPOV
[Translator Note: The ‘draft resolution’ referred to in the penultimate paragraph, declassified or otherwise, has yet to be found through our standard sources.]
Document 7: Excerpt from minutes No. 73 of the 11 March 1968 meeting of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU:
Communist Party of the Soviet Union CENTRAL COMMITTEE
No. 1173/47
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
SPECIAL FOLDER
To Comrades Brezhnev and Andropov.
Excerpt from minutes No. 73 of the 11 March 1968 meeting of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU
The issue of the Committee for State Security
1. Approve the KGB’s proposals, as set forth in memorandum No. 438-A dated February 24, 1968.
2. Instruct the Soviet Committee for Solidarity with Asian and African Countries (Comrade Zasokhov), acting on behalf of the Committee for Support of Vietnam, to receive American deserting servicemen that arrive from Japan, to support their stay in the USSR and the corresponding political efforts being carried out with them, as well as their departure to countries that agree to grant them political asylum.
In the event of the arrival in the USSR of the chairman of the Japanese “Peace for Vietnam” committee, ODA, establish contact with him in order to coordinate actions regarding the political use of the incidents surrounding the desertion of the American servicemen.
CENTRAL COMMITTEE SECRETARY
Translation © 2025 by Michael Estes and TranslatingHistory.org
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