Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume IV

861.111/10–248: Telegram

The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kohler) to the Secretary of State

secret

Moscow, October 2, 1948—6 p. m.

2229. While ominous parallel may be easily drawn between imposition of travel restrictions of members foreign missions and consulates in USSR on May 16, 1941, and reimposition these restrictions in expanded form on September 30 (reEmbtel 2213, October 1, repeated Paris as 423), I do not think conclusions Embassy on possibility future Soviet moves as previously reported Department are altered thereby. No doubt this Soviet action is connected with general international situation and they are taking precautions. However, since end June this year Soviet authorities have “unofficially” applied restrictions on movements foreign mission personnel in environs Moscow which they now have officially imposed in writing.¹ General security precautions in light international situation would encourage Soviet authorities in desire keep to minimum movements foreign observers and fact that original decree had never officially been rescinded provided convenient opportunity. Moreover, measure seems logical development other xenophobic steps during past year such as state secrets decree,² ban on foreign marriages³ and decree regulating relations with foreign representatives in Soviet Union.⁴

Embassy does not know whether prohibition of travel to points and localities enumerated in list enclosed with September 30 note applies only to foreigners but assumes in absence of any decree published in Soviet papers that it does. Wartime restrictions on travel Soviet citizens on railways were publicly rescinded effective June 1, 1946 and since new list included practically entire area Soviet Union it would appear impossible that prohibition could extend Soviet citizens without formal publication. Reimposition of prohibited areas and travel restrictions with clear implication in September 30 note by reference to 1941 note that these limitations had never been rescinded should provide basis for asking pertinent questions of Soviet delegation at General Assembly in regard to Soviet conception of international control atomic energy.

Now that the Soviet Government has officially informed us of limitations placed on our movements, I believe we should retaliate in similar fashion by restricting movements Soviets attached to Soviet Embassy Washington and to Amtorg in New York. I hope Ambassador Smith available for consultation and believe he would concur in this recommendation. Embassy understands that Department for brief period in 1941 before German attack on USSR adopted procedure restricting movements Soviets in USA and it is recommended that similar action be taken immediately.⁵

Sent Paris for Gadel 426.

Kohler

1. On July 1, 1948, the Embassy in the Soviet Union had sent a note No. 412 to the Foreign Ministry protesting the recent refusal to let members of the Embassy visit the famous author Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy’s estate at Yasnaya Polyana. (861.111/7–148) This note had not been answered by August 26, when the Counselor of Embassy Foy D. Kohler had a conversation with the Acting Chief of the American Section of the Foreign Ministry Vladimir Ivanovich Bazykin, when he objected to the restrictions being placed upon the movements of Embassy personnel. (861.111/8–2848)
2. Decree of June 8, 1947; see telegram 2120 from Moscow on June 12; telegram 2123 from Moscow on June 12; and airgram A–1278 from Moscow on November 29, Foreign Relations, 1947, vol. iv, p. 569, p. 571, and p. 622.
3. Decree of February 15, 1947; see ibid., footnote 1, p. 722.
4. Decree of December 16, 1947; see telegram 155, January 29, p. 798.
5. In telegram 2218 on this same day, not printed, the Chargé noted that the stories written about this decree by newspaper correspondents had not yet been released by the censor. He consequently recommended that the Voice of America should at once reveal the information, including it in the broadcasts to the Soviet Union. He also suggested that the details be released to the press for the Sunday morning newspapers of October 3, and he saw no objection to specific mention that the censor had not passed the stories. (811.42700 (R)/10–248) The Chargé, however, reported in telegram 2245 from Moscow on October 4, not printed, that a note was being sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting certain clarifications. In the meanwhile he proposed that “pending further developments possible retailiatory action be held in abeyance.” (861.111/10–448)