Office of the Historian

711.62114/9–1744: Telegram

The United States Political Adviser on the Staff of the Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Theater (Kirk), to the Secretary of State

Caserta, September 17, 1944—1 p.m.
[Received September 18—3:34 p.m.]

428. Reference my 411, September 16, 9 a.m. I assume Department is considering advisability of assuring itself of the nature of methods which may be applied in compelling those Russian prisoners of war, who under previous arrangements were given option of retaining prisoner of war status, to return to Russia, especially in view of fact that I understand some were taken by our forces and delivered to British under arrangement whereunder that option prevailed.63

Sent Department, repeated Moscow as 17.

Kirk
  1. In airgram A–13, September 17, 1944, Mr. Kirk reported that in Italy American forces had captured and turned over to the British 4 officers and 3754 enlisted men from the German Army who claimed Russian nationality. In southern France 2 officers and 2682 enlisted men claiming Russian nationality had been captured by American forces. (711.62114/9–1744)↩