Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Eastern Europe; Soviet Union; Eastern Mediterranean, Volume VIII

Microfilm telegram files, “Moscow FY 53”: Telegram

No. 555
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Beam) to the Department of State¹

confidential
priority

Moscow, March 6, 1953—4 p.m.

1259. Center of Moscow has been cleared of citizenry. Police cordons ring area from Lenin Library to beyond Bolshoi Theater. Side streets leading to Hall of Columns (where official announcement states body will rest) blocked by parked trucks. Red Square where no less than two thousand people had gathered, now cleared. Despite fact that pronouncement of committee concerned with funeral arrangements has ostentatiously not indicated when public will be permitted access Hall of Columns long line people already formed reaching to Pushkin Square.

Unusual number railroad police seen in railroad stations. Access to Leningrad station made difficult for Embassy officer despite his possession appropriate platform ticket. Inquiry of FonOff regarding access to Embassy for official personnel not resident in Mokhovaya building elicited response that arrangement of such sort not yet made and only temporary permission granted for movement Embassy personnel in automobiles via single street (Ulitsa Kalinina).

Beam

1. Repeated for information to Rome, Berlin, Bonn, Paris, and London.