300.115(39) City of Flint/136: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
858. Department’s No. 220, October 31, 6 p.m. The following observations may be made with respect to the Department’s lettered paragraphs. The hour given in each instance is Moscow time—8 hours later than Washington time. Paragraph [1] (a) correct. The first Tass despatch was sent abroad from Moscow at 3 a.m., on October 24 whereas it was not until 10:30 p.m., on October 25 that Potemkin, and then only in response to my pressing inquiries, informed me orally that the American crew were on board and well. In this connection it should be borne in mind I had seen Potemkin at the Foreign Office at 3 p.m., on October 24.
[(b)] The Tass despatch announcing release of the German prize crew and that the vessel had put into Murmansk because of damaged [Page 1008] machinery was issued at 1:30 a.m., on October 26, within 3 hours after my meeting with Potemkin at which he had conveyed no such information and disclosed no such intention. Following the issuance of this communiqué, when I called Potemkin by telephone he confirmed the information which it contained.
Tass despatch announcing that the vessel had been ordered to depart from Murmansk and studiously refraining from stating under which crew was released on the Soviet radio at 31 [11:30] p.m. on October 26, less than 1 hour after my meeting with Potemkin at which he had conveyed no such information and disclosed no such intention. It was not until 5:35 p.m., on October 27, during my fourth conversation with Potemkin, [that I] received oral official information of the Soviet Government’s intentions.
(c) Since Tass is an integral part of the Soviet Government I do not believe that a distinction need be made between the two as implied in this paragraph. At no time has the Soviet Government furnished the slightest information regarding the nature of the alleged damage to the vessel’s machinery or stated who was alleged to have verified the same, in spite of the repeated requests by me for such information.
(d) Not only is this statement correct but in the light of the information obtained from the despatcher at the port of Murmansk (see my telegram No. 821, October 28, 2 a.m.) it appears beyond a doubt that the American Captain and crew were prevented by detention on board from replying to my telegrams or answering my telephone calls. No reply was received to my written request of the Foreign Office that I be assisted in completing telegraphic communication with the American Captain. (Reference to information obtained from despatcher is strictly confidential.)
3. [(e)] No reply to my oral and written requests for permission to send a representative to Murmansk and for permission for a representative of the Embassy to enter this area was received. The refusal to provide an airplane was based on the implausible excuse that all available planes were occupied bringing delegates to the forthcoming meeting of the Supreme Soviet.
2 and 3. I think I can fairly say that in the course of my four visits to Potemkin on successive dates I left nothing unsaid compatible with the dignity of our Government.
On each occasion I emphasized to him with the utmost vigor the senselessness in this case of the customary Soviet secrecy and restrictions on freedom of movement and communication and pointed out the deplorable effect which the uncooperative attitude of the Soviet Government was having on my Government and on public opinion in the United States.
[Page 1009]4. I called on Potemkin at 1 p.m. today and conveyed to him the substance of the instructions contained in this numbered paragraph.
5. I am deeply grateful for the commendation of the Department which is greatly appreciated by me and by the entire staff who have afforded me splendid cooperation day and night during the course of this incident as well as at all other times.
- Telegram in five sections.↩