861.111/5–1347
The Chargé in the Soviet Union ( Durbrow ) to the Secretary of State
No. 1262
Sir: I have the honor to outline below recent evidence of increasingly rigid measures being taken to prevent Soviet citizens from coming in contact with foreigners.
The law of February 15 prohibiting Soviet citizens from marrying foreigners is the most extreme step in this direction. In this general connection the Consular Section of the Embassy has noted a resurgence of intimidation of persons who visit the Embassy in order to clarify their American citizenship status or to apply for immigration visas.
Between the Embassy building and the Hotel National, which it adjoins, there is an entry way which may be used for automobiles. There is usually at least one plain clothes detective stationed in this entrance but recently he seems to have acquired one or more assistants. It has been noted that the militia who stand in front of the Embassy are more frequently indicating to their plain clothes colleagues that they should follow and question American citizenship claimants or applicants [Page 727] for immigration visas when they leave the Embassy building. Several reports from visitors indicate that deliberate methods are also being used to give wrong directions to persons seeking the Embassy. In line with these developments it has just been announced that no unreserved seat cars will be attached to long distance trains serving Moscow. The necessity of obtaining a reserved seat on such trains in effect acts as a further deterrent to persons who desire to call at the Embassy.
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While the Embassy has few other sources of information than persons visiting the Consular Section, there is little reason to doubt that these reports are substantially true. From the end of the war up until about three months ago there were very few similar reports. The increasing surveillance of movements of individuals is in line with present propaganda and political developments which are outside the scope of this despatch.
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While some of the persons referred to above may have a claim to American citizenship, all of them are considered by the Soviet authorities also to possess Soviet citizenship. Since all these persons are considered by the authorities to possess Soviet citizenship it would appear, in view of the tightening of controls now being exercised by the Soviet authorities, that any further efforts that the Embassy may make to assist these persons in obtaining exit visas will not be effective. As the Department is aware, the Embassy’s efforts in the past to assist Americans in obtaining exit visas have rarely met with success.
Under Soviet theory and practice the desires of an individual are not taken into consideration if these desires conflict with what the authorities consider to be the best interests of the state. Whether for reasons of manpower or because they do not wish too many persons to proceed abroad and describe life in the Soviet Union, it appears obvious that a basic decision has been taken that emigration from the Soviet Union is not in the best interests of the state. It should be pointed out, however, that the foregoing does not apply to the comparatively small number of persons whom the authorities do not claim as Soviet citizens. Exit visas are occasionally given to non-Soviet citizens.
While the above evidence seems to indicate clearly that the authorities are tightening their controls, it should not give rise to the belief that this represents a new departure in Soviet practice. On the contrary, judging from past experience before the war, it might best be termed a return to normal—“the bear has again come down on his front paws.”
- Some paragraphs are omitted giving details of experiences at the hands of Soviet authorities of visitors to the Embassy, or of those seeking to visit, to discuss questions about their American citizenship, or regarding arrangements for passage to the United States.↩