340.1115A/283: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Thurston) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 25—10:43 a.m.]
940. Since the despatch of the Embassy’s telegram No. 888 dated November 13, 4 p.m.,55 three additional notes have been addressed to the Foreign Office requesting permission for an officer of the Embassy to proceed to Soviet occupied Poland for the purpose of rendering [Page 633] assistance to American citizens in that area. These notes have been supplemented by numerous telephone calls and today by a further personal visit by Mr. Ward to the Foreign Office. No reply has been made to any of the Embassy’s written communications.
In the meantime acting upon the assurance of the Foreign Office that the establishment of postal and telegraphic communication with Soviet occupied Poland afforded all facilities to the Embassy for communication with Americans there, numerous letters and telegrams have been addressed to all American citizens in that area whose whereabouts are known. While the Embassy has received letters and telegrams from some of these persons, no replies have been received to any of the Embassy’s communications to them, and even in the event that such replies should be received, the Embassy would be unable to remit travel funds in such cases as might be necessary.
In response to the pressing oral representations made this morning the Foreign Office denied that its inactivity was to be construed as constituting a refusal for the permission desired, and Mr. Ward was assured that such would “soon” be granted. We have at the moment information indicating that Americans requesting our assistance are located at 52 different places in Soviet occupied Poland and we have pending moreover the question of Ambassador Biddle’s property (which incidentally according to a report he has received has been looted by Soviet armed forces).
The Embassy will renew its representations more insistently within a few days and will telegraph the results.
- Not printed.↩