800.00B Rubens, Adolph A./36: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kirk)
Washington, January 6,
1939—5 p.m.
2. Your No. 1, January 2, 10 a.m.25
- 1.
- A statement made over the radio by a New York columnist and subsequently published seems to have given rise to a number of apparently baseless rumors regarding Mrs. Rubens. The Department is in possession of no information regarding the status of her case other than that furnished by the Embassy.
- 2.
- Mrs. Rubens’ relatives are much concerned regarding her welfare and are anxious to obtain further information with respect to her. You are therefore instructed, unless you perceive some objection thereto, so to inform the Foreign Office and to inquire regarding her present physical condition and general welfare.
- 3.
- It is also desired that simultaneously you point out informally that although more than a year has elapsed since the arrest of Mrs. Rubens, no formal charges appear as yet to have been made against her; that the American Government feels that she should either be brought to trial or released; and that it desires to be informed regarding the present status of her case.
- 4.
- You are instructed furthermore to continue pressing the Foreign Office in this matter until a definite reply with respect to Mrs. Rubens’ condition and the status of her case has been received.
Please keep the Department informed by telegram.
Welles
- Not printed.↩