Office of the Historian

361.1121/21: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt)

Washington, July 18, 1941—5 p.m.

910. Your 1365, July 16, 7 p.m. Department of Justice has informally advised us today that it is willing to arrange for dropping the charges against Ovakimian provided he leaves the country at once and provided certain American citizens and families of American citizens are permitted to leave the Soviet Union.

The Soviet Embassy is extremely anxious that Ovakimian depart from the United States on the steamship Kim leaving San Francisco in the early part or middle of next week.11 We have requested Justice to expedite the matter and are informing the Soviet Embassy accordingly.

Welles
  1. Later this same day in telegram No. 912 the Department informed Ambassador Steinhardt that “tentative arrangements have already been effected which will permit the departure of Ovakimian from the United States on the steamship Kim sailing from San Francisco on July 23.” (361.1121/21)↩