Foreign Relations of the United States, The Soviet Union, 1933–1939

361.1115 Kujala, Arthur J./7: Telegram

The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kirk) to the Secretary of State

Moscow, November 14, 1938—3 p.m.
[Received November 14—11:22 a.m.]

388. Department’s instruction No. 408 of July 11 this year.⁵²

1. According to a note received last evening from the Foreign Office Arthur Kujala was arrested in 1938⁵³ “for reprehensible actions”⁵⁴ and at that time he possessed neither documentary evidence of foreign citizenship nor a Soviet residence visa. The note adds that “Kujala was sentenced to 5 years in a reformatory labor camp and is now serving his term of detention”.

2. The Embassy is making appropriate inquiry regarding the specific charges under which the [sic] Kujala was arrested and tried, his present whereabouts and the earliest possible date on which he may be interviewed by a member of the staff.

3. Should the Department so instruct, and in case his relatives are willing and able to make available $100 for his repatriation, the Embassy will endeavor to have Kujala deported.

Kirk

52. Not printed.
53. The arrest occurred on September 23, 1937.
54. In his deposition at the American Legation in Helsinki on September 13, 1939, after his deportation from the Soviet Union, Kujala declared that the only reason for his arrest was “I didn’t have a passport.” (361.1115 Kujala, Arthur J./38)