361.1121 Ludaich, Mikolo/2
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Standley) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 9.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Department’s telegram number 357 of July 21, 1942, 7 p.m.,10 directing the Embassy to submit by mail a report of the available details concerning the arrest by the Soviet authorities of Micolo Ludaich and Leo Weckman, both dual nationals.
On June 17, 1942, Mrs. Alli Irene Halme, an American citizen who is residing at Gorki, U. S. S. R., called at the Embassy for the purpose of having her passport validated and brought with her a letter addressed to the Embassy by Mrs. Barbara Ludaich, the mother of Micolo Ludaich. Mrs. Ludaich stated that her son had been arrested by the Soviet authorities at Gorki two days after the outbreak of the present Soviet-German war. She stated further that all her efforts to determine the cause of his arrest had been futile. She was finally told that only through the American Embassy could she learn the reasons for his detention.
Mrs. Halme was questioned concerning the arrest and reported that Ludaich and Leo Weckman were taken into custody by the militia [Page 767] at Gorki along with other persons of Finnish descent during the first week of hostilities; No charges have as yet been preferred against them and they are still being detained in the local prison at Gorki.
It is believed that the Finnish descent of these persons caused their arrest by the Soviet authorities as persons of doubtful loyalty, and that they will be interned for the duration of the war. Under the circumstances the Embassy does not feel that it is in a position to intervene with the Soviet authorities with a view to effecting the prisoners’ release, and Mrs. Ludaich has been informed accordingly.
Respectfully yours,
Acting Chief of Consular Section
- Not printed.↩