861.404/92: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Germany ( Houghton )

30. As it appears from your No. 63, March 30, 4 p.m., that the Soviet representative has been effectively apprised of the expression of the humanitarian sentiment of the American people and of their earnest hope that the lives of the ecclesiastics in question would be spared, and has communicated with his principals at Moscow on the subject, it may be unnecessary for you to do anything further, but in case you are approached by the Soviet representative you may communicate the message stated in the Department’s 27, March 28, 5 p.m., through a secretary as you suggest. Whatever course you adopt, there should be no opportunity for a subsequent assertion that American sentiment in this matter was never actually made known to the Soviet representative.

Hughes