123 T 71/146: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Consul at Helsingfors (Haynes)
Your 229, April 8th, 11 a.m. Inform Gade that inasmuch as the detention of Tredwell, a Consul of this Government, is a gross violation of the generally accepted principles international law, his release and safe delivery outside the territory under Bolshevik control must be insisted upon as a condition precedent to entertaining proposals for negotiations with the Bolsheviki for the release of other prisoners. Gade’s plan cannot, therefore, be approved. You may inform Gade that his proposal has not been communicated to Nav[al] intel[ligence] and that so far as the Department of State [Page 183] is concerned no proposal to effect the release of American prisoners, including civilians improperly detained, in return for right to purchase drugs in this country would be approved.