Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Soviet Union, Eastern Mediterranean, Volume XXIV

92. Memorandum From the Attorney General (Brownell) to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Cutler)¹

Washington, March 22, 1955.

This has reference to your memorandum of March 9, 1955,² relative to the admission to the United States of certain European non-official temporary visitors excludable under existing law.

Pursuant to your request, I am enclosing a one-page memorandum which I believe adequately summarizes the considerations and actions which have taken place in this matter. You will note that a suggestion is included therein for substituting certain language in NSC Document 5508, February 8, 1955.³

I am also attaching a copy of a more detailed report on this subject,⁴ which was prepared for my use, in the event that you might have need for further background information.

I will be glad to keep your office informed of any further developments. I see no reason why this matter should not be the subject of consideration by the National Security Council on March 24.

Herbert Brownell, Jr.⁵

[Enclosure]

⁶

Memorandum Prepared in the Department of Justice

Washington, March 22, 1955.

The Secretary of State recommended to the Attorney General, in the national interest, the admission of eleven Soviet student and youth newspaper editors for a three week visit “to acquaint themselves with the life of students and youth in the United States”.⁷ The Attorney General, under a discretionary authority contained in the Immigration and Nationality Act, did authorize admission of this group under the sponsorship of the Institute of International Education.

The Institute of International Education, in accepting this responsibility, agreed to certain controls and requirements of the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the Department of Justice, the Agency of Government primarily responsible for all alien visitors in the United States. It should be made clear, however, that these conditions are not such that will detract from the purpose of the visit. …

The general question of admitting to the United States various groups of visitors from Russia, such as Russian farmers, athletes, etc., is the subject of a paper recently considered by the National Security Council. The President directed that the paper be referred to the Secretary of State and the Attorney General for consultation and decision. As a result of such consultation, it has been agreed that as to all future applications for admission of visitors from Russia, this plan will be followed:—

The Secretary of State will informally advise the Attorney General or the Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the group that desires to come to the United States. The Immigration and Naturalization Service will then develop, in consultation with the State Department, the necessary plans and controls which should be put into effect, including the selection of a non-Governmental organization to make arrangements for and to monitor the visitors while in the United States in cases where such action is appropriate. When such plans are complete, the Secretary of State will be advised, at which time the necessary formal actions will be taken to authorize admission.

(It is suggested that the language in the paragraph immediately preceding be substituted for paragraphs 12, 13, and 14 in NSC Document 5508, February 8, 1955.⁸)

Agreement has also been reached in principle as to authorizing the admission of the Soviet farmers⁹ through this same mechanism and under the same controls.

Following the visit of the eleven Soviet student and youth newspaper editors, and following the receipt of information as to the results of that experiment, a detailed report will be made.

1. Source: Department of State, S/P–NSC Files: Lot 62 D 1, Admission to the U.S. of European Soviet Bloc Nationals. Secret. Transmitted to the NSC under cover of a memorandum from Lay, dated March 22, indicating that it reported an agreement between the Departments of State and Justice pursuant to NSC Action No. 1336–b, and was to be considered by the Council at its meeting on March 24.
2. Not printed. (Ibid., S/S–NSC Files: Lot 63 D 351, NSC 5508 Series)
3. Not printed, but see NSC 5508/1, Document 94.
4. Not printed.
5. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.
6. Secret.
7. For text of the Department of State press release of March 10, announcing this decision, see Department of State Bulletin, March 21, 1955, p. 487. On April 16, however, the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the 11 editors decided not to visit the United States because they were unwilling to comply with the legal requirements for the issuance of nonofficial visitors’ visas, including fingerprinting. For a Department of State press release of April 16 responding to this announcement, see ibid., April 25, 1955, p. 695.
8. Not printed. (Department of State, S/P–NSC Files: Lot 62 D 1, Admission to the U.S. of European Soviet Bloc Nationals)
9. On March 10, the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs delivered a note to the American Embassy expressing the view that an exchange of agricultural delegations, as suggested by the Des Moines Register, could be advantageous and asked for the U.S. Government’s view on such an exchange. The text of the note has not been found in Department of State files.