Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1940, General, Volume I

124.60I3/51: Telegram

The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Thurston) to the Secretary of State

Moscow, September 11, 1940—1 p.m.
[Received September 11—12:33 p.m.]

1151. Department’s 529, September 10, 2 p.m.⁴³ Reinhardt reported last night that “all vans passed customs.” I assume this means that no attempt was made to collect duty.

The Department’s support and offer are greatly appreciated.⁴⁴

Thurston

43. Not printed. The Chargé was hereby “authorized to draw against Department’s special fund for money to cover export duties for American personnel and to pay them under protest.” It was believed that “the Soviet authorities, on reconsidering their stand, will be prepared to refund this money.” (124.60I3/49)
44. The Chargé formerly in Latvia, Earl L. Packer, in his despatch No. 882 written at Stockholm, September 12, summed up as his belief that it was “in large part due to the Department’s delay in issuing the necessary instructions authorizing the Legation to proceed with the packing of Government property and the personal property of members of the staff that the liquidation could not proceed more expeditiously once such instructions arrived.” (124.60P/76)