811.711/1593
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador of the Soviet Union (Umansky)21
The Secretary of State presents his compliments to His Excellency the Ambassador of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and has the honor to refer to the Ambassador’s note of March 10, 1941 concerning the detention by the United States postal authorities of second-class mail originating in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
The Secretary of State understands that officials of the Department have already informed the Ambassador that the detention of second-class mail addressed to the Soviet Embassy or the Soviet consular [Page 723] offices in the United States was unintentional, and wishes to express the sincere regrets of the Government of the United States that the Soviet Embassy or consular offices should fail to receive mail addressed to them as the result of any action of the authorities of the United States. The Secretary of State desires to inform the Ambassador that steps have been taken for the purpose of preventing any interference on the part of American authorities with the delivery of mail addressed to the Soviet Embassy or Soviet consular offices in this country.
It is understood that the other questions raised in the Ambassador’s note have already been answered orally by officials of the Department. Nevertheless, they are being again referred to the appropriate authorities of the United States, and a further reply will be made to them at a later date.22