361.1115 Kujala, Arthur J./23: Telegram.
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Grummon) to the Secretary of State
Moscow, July 25,
1939—10 a.m.
[Received July 25—8 a.m.]
[Received July 25—8 a.m.]
406. Embassy’s 345, June 27.37
- 1.
- In response to the Embassy’s formal and informal representations on behalf of Kujala a note dated July 14 has been received from the Commissariat stating that he will be deported under arrest, that he may not visit the Embassy or be visited by a member of the Embassy, but that his passport may be transmitted to him through the Commissariat or be handed to him at the Finnish border station.
- 2.
- Since the Soviet authorities seemingly desire to close the case with Kujala’s deportation, I should appreciate being instructed before discussing the matter further with Potemkin with a view, if possible, to arriving at a modification of the Soviet attitude, whether [Page 913] the Department would approve (1) of waiving personal appearance and transmitting Kujala’s passport through the Commissariat for Foreign Affairs in the event that the Soviet authorities refuse to permit him to depart otherwise or (2) of sending an officer to the border point to take Kujala’s passport application and hand him a previously prepared passport if the officer is satisfied as to Kujala’s identity and of his ability both mentally and physically to travel unaccompanied. In view of the Soviet refusal to permit Kujala thus far to appear before a member of the Embassy the possibility cannot be excluded that he is unfit for travel alone (see Elmer [Ernest] Baker case, Department’s instruction No. 597, December 30, 193538). It would doubtless be necessary for the Embassy to have his passport visaed in advance by the Finnish Legation in Moscow.
- 3.
- The Department may consider that the advantage of obtaining Kujala’s prompt departure from the Soviet Union, which the Soviet authorities now appear to be disposed to grant, would be outweighed by the precedent which would be established by not insisting on personal appearance, and which might resound in the future to the prejudice of other Americans held in Soviet prisons.
Grummon