250. Telegram From the Embassy in the Soviet Union to the Department of State1
1443. 1. Deputy Minister Vinogradov called me to Foreign Office this morning with Kornienko present and made the following oral statement, copy of which he gave me for my convenience: “As is well known, for over four years American authorities have been preventing departure from the US of Soviet citizen Imamv Ivanov.2 Soviet Government has repeatedly, including during discussions between USSR Foreign Minister and US Secretary of State Dean Rusk, raised with American side question of his departure from US. In February 1967, appropriate request was sent by Ivanov’s parents, people of very advanced age, directly to US President. However, American officials, referring to US Government’s inability interfere in any way in judicial process until hearing of Ivanov’s case in appellate court, have thus far refrained from taking steps for positive solution this question. On October 6, 1967, decision by appellate court was made and it was negative for Ivanov. In view of this, I have been instructed once again to draw attention of US Government to fact that continuing detention in US of Soviet citizen Ivanov is additional element complicating Soviet-American relations, which anyway leave much to be desired. Soviet Government counts upon US Government taking steps in nearest future for positive solution of question regarding Ivanov’s departure for his homeland the Soviet Union.”
2. I said I understood there was a possibility of a further appeal and inquired whether it was intended such an appeal be made. Vinogradov said he understood that they had thirty days from October 6 in which to make an appeal and that this would be done if Ivanov was not earlier released. Kornienko pointed out that the State Department had taken the position that we could not intervene while an appeal in the courts was pending. I said I would promptly inform the Department of his statement.
3. I believe we could get considerable mileage from the release and deportation of Ivanov at this time and strongly recommend that we do so. The long freeze in the development of Soviet foreign policy due to the 50th anniversary celebrations will soon be ended and from all indications there is a close balance in the leadership as to the direction such policies should take. Our favorable action in this case could [Page 595] have an effect far beyond that which would normally result from a gesture of this kind.3
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 23–4 US. Secret; Limdis.↩
- See footnote 4, Document 207.↩
- In telegram 57130 to Moscow, October 20, the Department of State replied, noting that it was considering the recommendation but wanted to avoid the erroneous impression that Ivanov’s release was part of a trade, for example for the release of Stephen Zipper, a U.S. citizen arrested by the Soviets in late September 1967 and detained on drug-smuggling charges. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files, 1967–69, POL 23–4 US)↩