300.115(39) City of Flint/106: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt)
220. 1. In reviewing your telegrams regarding the detention in Murmansk of the City of Flint the Department has noted that:
- a.
- Although Tass was in possession of sufficient information relative to the arrival in Murmansk of the vessel to enable it to issue a somewhat detailed statement on October 23 regarding its cargo, it was not until about 48 hours later that the Embassy was able to obtain any information from the Soviet Government regarding the whereabouts and safety of the American crew.
- b.
- Subsequently Tass was able to inform the public that the German prize crew had been released, that the vessel had put into Murmansk because of damaged machinery, and that the Soviet authorities had decided to permit the German crew to depart in possession of the vessel and cargo long before the Soviet Government conveyed such information through diplomatic channels to the American Government.
- c.
- The Soviet Government failed to furnish the Embassy detailed information regarding the nature of the alleged damage to the vessel’s machinery, or to state who had verified that there had been such damage, or to give further details surrounding the detention of the vessel which would be helpful to the American Government in determining the circumstances of the case.
- d.
- The Embassy received no answer to its telegrams addressed to the American Captain of the vessel, it was unable to get into telephonic communication with the Captain and crew, and the Captain and crew apparently were not allowed while in Murmansk to communicate with representatives of their Government or with members of their families.
- e.
- Representatives of the Embassy were unable to obtain permission from the Soviet authorities to visit Murmansk.
2. It is assumed that you have already brought all of the facts mentioned above to the attention of the appropriate Soviet officials and have pointed out that they represent an attitude on the part of [Page 1007] the Soviet Government towards the American Government and its representatives in the Soviet Union, which has been the cause of astonishment to both the American Government and the American people.
3. If in your various conversations you have not already expressed the views of this Government with regard to any of these facts please do so at once.
4. Please also inform the appropriate authorities that since the lives of the American captain and crew may have been at stake your Government had considered it extremely important that the Embassy be able to communicate with them and that your Government feels that it has a right to, and therefore asks for, an explanation as to why they were apparently held incommunicado during their stay in Murmansk. It is also desired that you request on behalf of your Government an explanation as to the failure of the Soviet Government to cooperate with the Embassy in ascertaining all the facts connected with the detention of the vessel and the crew which this Government has a right to expect of a government with which it maintains friendly relations.
5. The Department is appreciative of the difficulties which you are encountering in carrying out your duties in trying and unpleasant circumstances, and commends you for the vigorous and able manner in which you have handled this case.