361.1121 Kudrasheff, Alexander

The Minister in Norway ( Swenson ) to the Secretary of State

No. 903

Sir: I have the honor to report that in compliance with the Department’s instruction No. 298 of August 26, 1926, the case of Kudrasheff, Chevalier, and Kopman was taken up with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which promised to use its good offices with a view to securing the release of the three Americans imprisoned in Soviet Russia.

The Legation is now in receipt of the enclosed note, dated the eighteenth instant, from the Norwegian Foreign Office, in which is transmitted a self-explanatory excerpt from the report of the Norwegian Minister at Moscow to his government in this matter.

I have [etc.]

Laurits S. Swenson
[Enclosure—Translation]

The Norwegian Under Secretary of Foreign Affairs ( Esmarch ) to the American Minister ( Swenson )

Mr. Minister: I have the honor to advise you that the Foreign Office upon receipt of your memorandum of the thirteenth ultimo regarding the three American citizens, Kudrasheff, Chevalier, and Kopman, imprisoned in Soviet Russia, authorized the legation in Moscow to make representations in the matter to the Soviet authorities with a view to securing the three gentlemen’s freedom or at least to have accorded to them such privileges as might be granted.

In this connection I have the honor to forward herewith a transcript of a note dated the eighth instant from the above-mentioned legation, together with the enclosure referred to therein.2

It is requested that the Legation’s note be regarded as confidential. Upon the receipt of additional information in the case I shall immediately advise you.

[Page 650]

Remaining as always gladly at your service in this matter, I beg [etc.]

Aug. Esmarch
[Subenclosure—Translation]

Excerpt From Report of Norwegian Minister in Russia to the Norwegian Foreign Office

To the Royal Norwegian Foreign Office: On the third instant I had a conference with Litvinoff in which I brought up this case. … I delivered the documents to Litvinoff, stating that the American Minister at Oslo had addressed himself to me in the matter and that I felt I should acquaint Litvinoff with the case even though I could not act officially in it. I chose this form because I feared that if I made representations on behalf of the Norwegian Government, I would simply meet with a blank refusal.

Litvinoff replied that he could not receive any official representation from me in such a matter. But the Soviet Government did not wish American citizens to be treated with injustice, so he would gladly look into the case. He thereupon perused the papers I had brought and remarked that two of the persons concerned, namely Kudrasheff and Kopman, were born in Russia. Even if they had later become naturalized American citizens, they would be regarded and treated as Russian citizens as soon as they returned to Russia. When a person in their position sought a visa to enter Russia, he was obliged, if he intended to return for good, to sign a declaration to the effect that he should be regarded as a Russian citizen from the moment he set foot on Russian territory. If he sought a visa for a shorter sojourn in Russia he was advised that as long as he remained in Russia he would be regarded as a Russian citizen. These regulations were not new. The same had applied in Russia before the revolution.

There was nothing to be done for two of the persons in question, but he kept the documents for all three and promised to investigate the case.

At a later date I shall again address myself to Litvinoff in order to hear whether he can give me any information. I enquired whether there was any way, as for example through the political red cross, that help could be sent to the arrested men, but he advised me not to take any steps in this direction.3

I enclose a copy of the excerpt which I delivered to Litvinoff.4

As regards Chevalier, I believe that the representation made may lead to his release. The prospect for the others is very poor, but [Page 651] results are by no means hopeless for them. I can do nothing more for the present, but the question of getting some help sent to them can in any case be taken up again, if the American Government wishes me to make a new effort. I think it unlikely that they would refuse to receive packages containing clothing and food, which one wished to send them.

Prisoners in Russia as a rule are allowed to receive such parcels.

[File copy not signed]
  1. Enclosure not printed.
  2. The Department of State sent $50 to Alexander Kudrasheff through the German Foreign Office and German consul general at Tiflis.
  3. Not printed.