191.1/499
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt)
Sir: The receipt is acknowledged of your despatch No. 699, August 19, 1940, regarding a request of the Soviet Government that the Embassy accept Soviet currency in payment of consular fees.
Whenever the Soviet Government is prepared to permit the exchange of its currency, received by the Embassy in payment of consular fees, for United States currency or dollar drafts at a rate of exchange approximately equivalent to that at which it will permit the exchange of dollars for rubles, the Embassy may accept rubles in payment of fees. Until then, the Department will have no interest in rubles tendered in payment of fees which Foreign Service Officers are by law required to collect “in the coin of the United States or at its representative value in exchange” (22 U. S. C. 128).
Very truly yours,