861.8623/3–2945
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Acting Secretary of State
The Soviet Ambassador36 called this afternoon at his request and left with me the appended memorandum37 asking for the extradition of two Soviet seamen, who had allegedly deserted their vessels on the West Coast. Mr. Gromyko said that a law (ukase) had been passed by his Government last May declaring that the desertion of Soviet merchant seamen would be regarded in the same light as the desertion of officers or soldiers in the Army or Navy. The Ambassador said that it was on these grounds that his Government requested the extradition.38 He added that the matter had already been taken up through Soviet consular officers on the West Coast, but without result.