124.60P3/237: Telegram
The Chargé in Latvia (Packer) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 29—2 p.m.]
337. Legation’s telegrams 283, August 12, 8 p.m.; 316, August 21; 322, August 23, 2 p.m.; 327, August 25, 1 p.m.; and 335, August 28.35 Local office of People’s Commissariat for Foreign Trade has just informed me that “norms” of the Soviet Customs Tariff will apply with respect to export of effects of all members of the staff not included in diplomatic list with the result that they will be expected to pay export duty on all furniture excluding requirements of three rooms, on excess clothing et cetera. I have protested orally on the ground that the members of the Legation staff have not been living under conditions such as prevail in the Soviet Union and it would therefore be unjust to apply the Soviet “norms”. The official to whom I spoke has promised to appeal to the head representative of the Commissariat for Foreign Affairs here but I have little hope that unless pressure is applied at once in Washington and Moscow there [Page 433] will be a solution satisfactory to us. I hope the Department will not require the members of the staff who acquired property here prior to Soviet occupation to submit to this inequitable treatment. Instructions requested.
Repeated to Moscow.
- None printed.↩