811.20261/61: Telegram
The Chargé in Sweden (Wheeler) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received June 29, 3:03 a.m.]
My telegram 3955, June 24th, 5 p.m. Lomonossoff has received the following telegram.
“No offer regarding release of Kalamatiano ever made by Tchitcherin or any representative of Soviet Government either direct to Lansing, American Legation, Stockholm, or through Steffens. Grouzenberg left Moscow, his whereabouts unknown, cannot therefore inquire of him but, anyhow, having no connection with any commissariat and no authority negotiate this matter he could give Steffens only his personal opinion. Fail understand on what grounds your movements could be conditioned upon release of a most dangerous spy, found guilty and sentenced to capital punishment. Advise you not proceed through Finland or Archangel but wait for possibility of safer passage. On behalf Commissariat for Foreign Affairs, Litvinoff.”
Lomonossoff has telegraphed today through the Swedish Foreign Office as follows:
“Swedish authorities here permitted me stay in Sweden only until August 1st. In order to enable me to continue negotiations kindly advise how my passage from America [to] Russia was actually conditioned”.