Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1942, Europe, Volume III

361.1121/34

The Assistant Chief of the Division of European Affairs (Hickerson) to Mrs. Nerma Oggins

Washington, October 23, 1943.

My Dear Mrs. Oggins: The Department has received your letter of October 6, 1943²¹ with further reference to your husband, Mr. Isaiah Oggins, who is detained in the Soviet Union.

As you will recall the Department informed you in its letter of August 2, 1943²¹ that all appropriate measures had been taken on your husband’s behalf both by the Department and by the American Embassy in the Soviet Union but that the Soviet authorities recently indicated that they found it impossible to reconsider his case. It appears, therefore that the Soviet authorities are not disposed to release Mr. Oggins from the obligation of serving the sentence which they state was imposed upon him for violation of Soviet laws, and the Department does not believe that at the present time any action can be taken which would cause the Soviet authorities to revoke their decision.²²

Sincerely yours,

John D. Hickerson

21. Not printed.
21. Not printed.
22. After the failure to obtain Oggins’ release in 1943, there is no record of any subsequent developments until, after receipt of a letter of July 17, 1944, from Mrs. Oggins, the Department again requested the Embassy in Moscow, in its Instruction No. 259 of August 14; 1944, if possible to “approach the proper Soviet authorities concerning the release of Mr. Oggins.” (361.1121/7–1744)