340.1115/2–1247: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union ( Smith ) to the Secretary of State
371. Embassy’s 261, February 1. Particular case which we had in mind regarding legal basis for protection of American citizens was that of John Peter and Laurraine Elizabeth Jadwalkis, subject of Embassy’s despatch No. 798, February 4.1
As recognized principles international law do not always seem to hold good with Soviet authorities, I am afraid we are in far less strong position than I would like for protecting American citizens in USSR. It seems to me that we are badly in need of Consular convention defining explicitly our rights regarding protection of our citizens.
- Not printed. An aide-mémoire of February 1, which Ambassador Smith had presented to Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Vladimir Georgiyevich Dekanozov, was enclosed. It recalled that inquiries had begun on June 15, 1946, regarding these two native born American citizens, who were believed to be imprisoned in the Lithuanian district of Zarasu. The aide-mémoire proceeded to review at length the subsequent communications whereby the Embassy had attempted to learn the reason for their imprisonment, which the Foreign Ministry had countered with assertions that the two persons were not American citizens, so that “the appropriate Soviet authorities” were unable to supply the information desired by the Embassy. The aide-mémoire recounted in detail the provisions of the agreement of November 16, 1933, for the protection of the rights of American citizens, and again made the request for information about these arrests and the reasons therefor. (340.1115/2–447)↩