124.612: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Durbrow) to the Secretary of State
897. Chief Moscow customs informed Embassy orally yesterday Embassy must accept delivery or re-ship abroad by May 25 all goods which have been held in Moscow customs for more than 2 months. Official added if this not done all goods would be confiscated. Of course we could use remaining 270,000 rubles 1948 quota, but additional goods above this subject to duty if we accept delivery.
Am endeavoring ascertain from Foreign Office whether this final word. If so, means promised concessions will not be made and Soviet Government has decided itself bring question to head. In this case shall withdraw absolutely essential items official supplies against free quota, leaving as much as possible quota for future essential supplies unless Department prepared pay duty on official supplies after full quota exhausted by taking out all such supplies now on hand. If Department not prepared pay duty, shall re-ship remainder official supplies, shall inform individuals they must pay duty, re-ship their personal consignments or have them confiscated. Will also accept essential commissary supplies, paying duty which will increase cost of living here astronomically. Essential Department decide whether prefer (1) increase allowances considerably above those already requested to make up for increased living costs or (2) pay duty on essential commissary [Page 867] supplies needed maintain reasonable American standard of living here.
If no concessions made, we must take action contemplated Embtel 863, May 8 without awaiting Ambassador’s return, in order show we not bluffing this matter. Consequently, if Foreign Office confirms customs ultimatum, I propose write letter Molotov explaining necessity cut Soviet personnel US as proposed by Department, which will be handed Molochkov with oral statement our regrets that Soviet Government’s failure to meet our needs has forced us take such action.1
Department pass Paris for Smith.
- Ambassador Smith cabled the Department in telegram 2616 from Paris on May 15 stating that, while he agreed with Durbrow’s proposed procedure except for that contemplated in this paragraph, he desired that the Department would instruct Durbrow not to take this action before his return to Moscow. The Ambassador said that he would prefer to handle this himself with Molotov or Vyshinsky. (124.612) The Department obliged in telegram 543 to the Embassy in Moscow on May 15, requesting no action be taken before the return of Ambassador Smith, but suggesting a note be sent asking that the decision on the customs ultimatum be held in abeyance beyond the May 25 deadline until the Ambassador had the opportunity to discuss the situation with Molotov. (124.612)↩