361.00/12
The Chargé in the Soviet Union ( Henderson ) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 25.]
Sir: With reference to my despatch No. 286 of May 12, 1937,18 setting forth certain developments affecting the position of foreigners in the Soviet Union, I have the honor to report that at the present time practically all Soviet citizens who have had occasion during recent years to have relations with members of foreign diplomatic missions or with foreigners who keep in touch with their diplomatic missions appear to be in constant fear of being arrested on charges of espionage or terrorism. This alarm extends apparently even to those Soviet citizens who, as agents for the People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs, have been specially authorized to maintain contacts with foreigners.
There is hardly a diplomatic mission in Moscow which does not have some story to relate regarding efforts of the Soviet Government to eliminate still further the various channels with which in the past it has come into contact with Soviet life.
Among the various forms in which the campaign of isolation has manifested itself, the following are worthy of note:
- 1.
- The arrest or sending into exile of Soviet citizens who have had relations with foreign diplomats or with foreigners who are in contact with a diplomatic mission.
- 2.
- The terrorizing of Soviet citizens who hitherto have had some form of contact with foreigners to such an extent that they have dropped such contacts or, if such contacts are necessary, have found [Page 375] it advisable to exercise such discretion in maintaining them as not to give rise to suspicion.
- 3.
- Arrest or expulsion from the Soviet Union of foreign citizens who may possibly serve as bearers of information to one or more diplomatic missions.
- 4.
- A closer surveillance of the movements of members of the Diplomatic Corps and of foreigners in general.
The arrest of Mr. Boris Steiger which was reported in my despatch No. 249 of April 28, 1937,19 is an illustration of one way in which this campaign of isolation manifests itself. It will be recalled that Mr. Steiger was generally considered by members of the Diplomatic Corps as one of the most valuable contacts between themselves and the Soviet Government. In this connection it should be pointed out that officials of the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs have usually shown themselves too timorous to make any statements regarding Soviet foreign or internal affairs, other than those to be found in the Soviet press.
This Mission, like missions not only of the so-called “war-mongering countries” like Germany and Japan, but also of the democratic countries, has not been overlooked during the course of this campaign. It will be recalled in this connection that in the Soviet press attention has been given to the fact that the citizens not only of hostile countries but also of countries with which the Soviet Union maintains friendly relations are likely to be engaged in espionage. Of the four Soviet citizens who for the last two or three years have been giving Russian lessons to members of the Embassy staff, two have been arrested during the last three weeks. The two teachers who thus far are still at large frankly express their fear of arrest but take the attitude that it would probably be more dangerous for them to cease giving lessons in present conditions than for them to continue calling at the Embassy, since a sudden change in their routine might cause police officials to believe that they have guilty consciences. Although no Soviet employees of the Embassy have been arrested since the case reported in my despatch No. 1991 of October 14, 1936,19 the Soviet citizens now working for the Embassy are extremely concerned and some of them state quite frankly that they are in constant fear of being arrested or having withdrawn the permit which entitles them to live in Moscow.
The arrest of the husband of Mrs. Shkiantz, reported in my despatch No. 277 of May 11, 1937,19 is not believed to have any connection with the fact that she is employed at the Embassy. Nevertheless, arrests of this kind have a tendency of lowering the morale of the other Soviet members of the staff.
[Page 376]In view of the increased displeasure with which the Soviet Government appears to be looking upon Soviet citizens who have relations with foreigners, the American members of the staff of this Embassy hesitate to continue or to develop such contacts as they already have since they do not wish to be instrumental in causing misfortune to innocent persons.
It may be added that during the last six months the Lutheran clergyman who generally performs services for the Protestant members of the Embassy staff, the only qualified dentist who was willing to perform dental work for the staff, and a Soviet physician who frequently paid calls upon members of the Embassy staff during the absence of Dr. Rumreich, have been arrested. In this connection it should be pointed out, however, that these persons were accustomed to perform services not only for members of this Embassy but also for those of other diplomatic missions.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
In various conversations with officials of the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs, I have referred to the systematic manner in which the Soviet Government is ridding the country of resident foreigners. The subject apparently is a somewhat embarrassing one to these officials, particularly in view of repeated announcements by spokesmen for the Soviet Government of the desire of that Government to cooperate with the democratic countries of the world. The officials in question usually state in discussing the expulsions that the evidence brought out during the recent Zinoviev-Kamenev and the Radek-Piatakov trials has so aroused popular indignation throughout the country that it is considered advisable for the time being to reduce the number of foreigners residing in the Soviet Union.
In reply to statements of this kind it should be pointed out that in the opinion of the Embassy the campaign is the result more of Stalin’s tirade against the capitalist encirclement and espionage and the subsequent series of articles in the Soviet press advising Soviet citizens to beware of foreigners than of any popular reaction to the evidence brought out at the trials.
Respectfully yours,