124.613/1065: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union ( Thurston ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:35 a.m.]
1077. Department’s telegram No. 474, August 22, 7 p.m.31 At the request of Leonard, Gufler, and Packer, I am sending Ward to Tallinn, Bohlen32 to Kaunas, and Reinhardt33 back to Riga, to assist in the final liquidation of our establishments there. As the Department will realize, this action seriously depletes the personnel of this Mission and I trust that our Chargés d’Affaires at the three places mentioned will have progressed sufficiently with the closing of their respective offices to enable the members of this Embassy to return to their post with the least possible delay.
In this connection I take it for granted that the Department’s instructions regarding the liquidation of the Baltic offices “before September 5” are not to be construed to mean that the officers in charge must personally remove themselves from those posts prior to September 5 unless they have succeeded in completing the liquidation of their offices. If they have not done so, it would seem to be advisable that they should remain for the time necessary to complete such liquidation, inasmuch as it is obvious that an officer unfamiliar with local conditions would be at a great disadvantage in winding up the last, and presumably minor, details.
Repeated to Tallinn, Kaunas and Riga.