811.3361/11–244: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kennan) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:30 p.m.]
4207. The following is the situation with respect to the visas for naval personnel mentioned in the Department’s 2550 October 28, 8 p.m.74 On September 28 Admiral Olsen75 personally presented this matter to Admiral Alafuzov76 and was assured that the matter had previously been submitted to the Foreign Office and would again be brought to their attention. On October 2 nothing further having been heard, Ambassador Harriman wrote directly to Assistant People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs Vyshinski and made the earnest request that expeditious action be taken on these visa requests. On [Page 928] October 16 no further communication having been received from the Soviet authorities, Admiral Olsen wrote to the People’s Commissar [of] the Navy Admiral Kuznetzov,77 traced the history of these requests, pointed out that in no instance had the Foreign Office ever given a reason for the delay in taking action, and stated that he would gladly answer any questions or get any additional information required. He observed that this delay could not help but have an adverse effect upon the handling of lend lease and Soviet affairs both in the northern ports and thru this office as well as on the future handling of Soviet requests for visas. He has had no reply to that letter.
In view of the levels on which this matter has been taken up and the statements that have been made to Mr. Vyshinski and Admiral Kuznetsov, I do not consider that it would be efficacious or beneficial to our prestige if I were to follow up those communications with any similar approaches on my part. The interest of our government in this matter has now been expressed in the clearest way by our highest ranking officials in Moscow to both the Foreign Affairs and Navy Commissariats. There would be no further step I could take on my own initiative which would not appear to represent a retrogression rather than a stepping-up of our pressure. If our future requests for visas for official, military, and naval personnel are to be received with respect by Soviet authorities I think it essential that in this present instance the Russians be made to feel our displeasure in some concrete way. The Soviet reluctance to admit this personnel most probably originates in certain Soviet circles within the secret police and possibly the Navy Commissariat as well where the presence of American Naval personnel in Soviet ports and perhaps even in Moscow is viewed with mixed feelings. As long as these elements can hold up action in matters of this sort without palpable detriment to the interests of the Soviet Union the arguments of those who might wish to treat us more obligingly will not be forceful. Only if it develops that behavior of this sort leads promptly to results detrimental to the state interests of the Soviet Union will the arguments for prompt and considerate treatment of our visa requests begin to carry due weight in Soviet circles.
I do not think that the withholding of a few current visas for official Soviet personnel will be sufficient to ensure this development.
General Deane and Admiral Olsen have seen this message and concur.
- Not printed. Visas for 12 naval personnel, which had been applied for between July 15 and October 16, to go to Moscow had not yet received the approval of Soviet authorities.↩
- Rear Adm. Clarence E. Olsen, naval member of the United States Military Mission in the Soviet Union.↩
- Vladimir Antonovich Alafuzov, Chief of the Naval General Staff of the Soviet Union.↩
- Nikolay Gerasimovich Kuznetsov, Commander in Chief of Soviet Naval Forces since 1939.↩