761.5211/3–850: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union ( Barbour ) to the Secretary of State
783. Sent Department 783; Department pass Cairo 11 for Ambassador Kirk.1 While I appreciate that views this Embassy relation general implications Gubitchev case have already been made known Department, I feel incumbent on me to express the hope that, now that his conviction has been obtained2 which should make clear to any who still doubted that Soviet agents in US do engage in improper activities and that such activities will not be tolerated, US Government will consider the purposes of the prosecution achieved and will be disposed to consider ends of justice and national interest satisfied with suspended sentence and deportation. I am conscious that such punishment might appear less than sufficient to meet the crime. However, as international issues are inextricably involved and as substance affair has now been resolved at variance US intentions, I believe it to be in the national interest to liquidate matter expeditiously and avoid further potential complications with Soviets in respect thereto which could be vexatious to say the least and would at best serve no useful purpose.
- Vice Adm. Alan G. Kirk was Ambassador of the United States to the Soviet Union. This telegram was relayed to him in Cairo on March 8 at 9:40 a. m., and it was also repeated to the United States Mission to the United Nations in New York on March 11.↩
- The trial jury had brought in verdicts of guilty against Gubichev and Miss Coplon on March 7.↩