701.6111/1–2348: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in the Soviet Union
430. Sov Emb has presented note1 protesting our detention subject payment duty nineteen cases foodstuffs mentioned Deptel 89, Jan. 23. After terming Department’s action discriminatory, note states:
“With regard Emb USA Moscow, customs authorities of Sov Union not only have not applied any discriminatory measures but on contrary have repeatedly permitted exceptions to customs regulations, leaving Emb of USA in more favorable position by comparison with other dip representatives. Emb of USA in USSR has received beyond limit of waived duties furniture, rugs, curtains, various sanitary equipment and Emb has also been permitted importation furniture beyond limit waived duties both for first installation of Amb Smith and for replacement furniture rented by Emb of USA in USSR from Burobin.”
In light this protest Department would appreciate early reply Deptel 393, April 10.2
Soviets recently re-exported forty cases furniture and office supplies which we held New York customs since December (Deptel 2050, Dec. 223).
- Note 81 dated April 15, 1948; not printed.↩
- Not printed.↩
- Not printed. On the basis of information received from the American Embassy in Moscow in its telegram 746 on April 21, not printed, that it was believed to be advisable to release 19 cases of foodstuffs and 40 cases of liquor (701.6111/4–2148), by a note of April 26, not printed, the Soviet Embassy in Washington was advised that “the Department has requested the appropriate Government agencies to take favorable action” on the requests made in the note No. 81 of April 15 by the Soviet Embassy. The hope was then expressed that “the problem of the American Embassy at Moscow with regard to the present Soviet customs restrictions on the importation into the Soviet Union of supplies for the use of the Embassy and its staff will meet with an early and satisfactory solution.” (702.6111/4–1548)↩