123 T 79/71: Telegram

The Consul at Vladivostok ( Tuck ) to the Secretary of State

[Paraphrase]

7. The secretary of the recently established Vladivostok department of the Moscow Commissariat for Foreign Affairs has notified me that three months is allowed me to obtain official exequatur by negotiation between the United States and the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs at Moscow. This consulate may function in the meantime although the Soviet authorities will not recognize it as official. The Chinese, Japanese and British consuls have received communications of the same purport.

Possibly if no action is taken the Soviet authorities will allow me to remain as a private individual. However, it is likely that the consulate will not be permitted to function as in the past, even unofficially. Pending definite instructions I will leave the Soviet communication unanswered.

I have informed the Embassy at Tokyo.

Tuck