Office of the Historian

861.248/154a: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt)

Washington, October 28, 1941—9 p.m.

1161. For Steinhardt and Faymonville from Hopkins. The Soviet Chargé d’Affaires15 has received word from his government that no visas are to be given to American technicians who are ready to go to aid in the erection and care of airplanes and tanks. Both Harriman and I understood from our talks in Moscow that technicians would be welcomed. We believe that it is essential that these technicians precede the equipment. It would be appreciated if Steinhardt would consult Molotov at once in order to clear up what appears to be a misunderstanding. It is suggested that Molotov be asked that specific instructions be sent at once to Soviet Embassy in Washington to grant appropriate visas. Arrangements have already been practically completed for the despatch of about 15 civilian technicians and approximately 51 military technicians, including 3 officers. These technicians are arriving in Washington on October 29 in order to obtain their passports and are planning to depart for Archangel in the near future. Therefore the matter is extremely urgent. [Hopkins.]16

Hull
  1. Andrey Andreyevich Gromyko.↩
  2. According to Ambassador Steinhardt’s telegram No. 1853, October 31, 1941, Assistant People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs Vyshinsky stated that the Soviet Embassy in Washington had been instructed to issue the visas immediately (861.248/155).↩