861.4054/5–2147: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Durbrow) to the Secretary of State
restricted
Moscow, May 21,
1947—11 a. m.
1843. Applicant for immigration visa informed Embassy recently that Assistant Chief of OVIR (exit visa issuing office) told her that cases of “private citizens desiring to depart from Soviet Union are not being considered as present time.” This additional evidence that wives of American citizens (Embtel 1203 April 5) will not be allowed to depart. Also indicates high level decision on whole question of exit visas has been or is in process of being made.1
Durbrow
- The Chargé further reported in telegram 2058 from Moscow on June 7, noon, not printed, that Soviet authorities were even preventing the departure of Americans whose citizenship had been verified and who were mot dual nationals. Notes had been written on 8 cases, involving 10 individuals, but the Chargé believed that, because of the seriousness of the arbitrary action, Ambassador Smith should take up the matter at a high level upon his return to the Embassy.↩