811.01B61/12–1844
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador of the Soviet Union (Gromyko)
My Dear Mr. Ambassador: I am keeping very much in mind the case of Kravchenko which we have before us. The Department of Justice is working on the matter.
A preliminary investigation by the Legal Section of the Department of State reveals that the question of the deportation of Kravchenko falls within the provisions of the domestic laws of the United States in the absence of any treaty of extradition or any special agreement between our two countries covering cases of this character. You can thus understand that the Executive Branch can only act in accordance with and under the authority of the pertinent laws of the United States.
I am making every effort to have the Department of Justice expedite its consideration of the case and am confident that I will be able to give you further information on this matter in the near future. In the meantime I would be grateful if you would communicate the foregoing preliminary information to your Government.
Sincerely yours,