711.94114 Mail/40: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 16—6:30 a.m.]
2236. The considerations set forth in the Department’s 1357, December 7, 7 p.m., were communicated to the Foreign Office in a memorandum dated December 11. The matter was discussed with Deputy Commissar for Foreign Affairs Lozovsky on December 15 at which time the great interest of the American Government in this question was emphasized and a favorable decision at an early date requested. Lozovsky promised to give the matter his attention.
For the Department’s information the Embassy has discussed with the British Embassy here the procedure followed in transmitting mail to British prisoners of war and civilian internees in Japan and has been informed that it is based upon permission obtained by the British from the Japanese Government in June 1942 through the Swiss Government, the protecting power. The British have endeavored to obtain the consent of the Soviet Government to forward mail to persons in Japan other than prisoners of war or civilian internees and to send parcels to prisoners of war and civilian internees. The Soviet Government has declined to assist in the transmission of such mail in the absence of special arrangements made by the British with the Japanese Government, which to date has not been reached.