121.67/3–1747
The American Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Soviet Ministry for Foreign Affairs 49
The Embassy of the United States of America presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and has the honor to refer to the Ministry’s Note 107 of March 3, 1947,50 regarding the question of courier vessels to the port of Dalny.
The American Government plans to utilize commercial vessels for diplomatic couriers proceeding to Dalny as soon as such vessels are available and that port actually opened to trade as contemplated in the Sino-Soviet Treaty of August 14, 1945. However, as the port of Dalny is presently closed to international trade, it is obviously impractical to divert commercial vessels the long distance involved merely to afford passage to couriers. Therefore the only practical procedure for the present is to continue to utilize small naval vessels specially disarmed for this purpose and constantly available for the brief over-night voyage from North China ports to Dalny. The American Government considers the use of these small disarmed naval vessels as the only practical solution until such time as the port of Dalny is open to international trade.