811.32/7–1745: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union ( Kennan ) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 17—7:35 p.m.]
2603. Re Dept’s telegram 1586, July 12. On July 6 Ambassador Harriman wrote Vyshinski64 on general subject of Soviet wives of members of official American staff, expressing hope that now that hostilities in Europe concluded release of these women might be arranged. Similar letters were written at about same time by British, Canadian, Netherlands, Australian, Colombian and Uruguayan Missions and it was common hope that together these approaches might cause Russians to relax restrictions on departure of women in question from Soviet Union. Thus far I am not aware that any results have been forthcoming.
Ambassador Harriman recently rec’d letter from Uskievich asking him to take up his case individually and enclosing copy of letter of thanks he had received from Russian Naval Commander for work in training Soviet crews. I do not feel it would be proper to introduce this letter in support of his case or that it would do any good to write Foreign Office separate letter on his behalf at present during Three Power meeting.65 Possibly it will be possible to review entire situation after Three Power meeting and try to learn something of Russian plans in this respect.
- Audrey Yanuaryevich Vyshinsky, First Assistant People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union.↩
- The Potsdam Conference, July 17–August 2; for documentation on this Conference, see Foreign Relations, The Conference of Berlin (The Potsdam Conference), 1945, 2 vols.↩