861.20211/4–946
The Department of State
to the Embassy of the Soviet
Union
Aide-Mémoire
With reference to the conversation between the Under Secretary of State
and the Chargé d’Affaires of the Soviet Embassy on April 6, 1946
relative to the case of the arrest of Lieutenant Nikolai Grigorie-vitch
Redin, the Under Secretary of State has discussed this matter with the
United States Department of Justice, the competent American authorities
in such cases. The Attorney General79 was requested
[Page 740]
to make available as soon as possible further particulars regarding
the charges against Lieutenant Redin. A copy of the preliminary
information received from the Attorney General is attached.
It is understood that the case is to be presented to the Grand Jury at
Seattle, Washington and if an indictment is returned by the Grand Jury,
a copy will be made available to the Soviet Embassy.
As the Under Secretary stated on April 6, the Department of State under
United States juridical procedure is not in a position to intervene in
such matters which fall solely within the competence of the Department
of Justice.
The Chargé d’Affaires can be assured that Lieutenant Redin will be
accorded the full protection provided under American law and if the
evidence against him convinces the Grand Jury that a trial is necessary
in this case, the trial will be just and fair.80
Washington, April 9,
1946.
[Annex]
Preliminary Information Recetved From the
Attorney General or the United States Relative to the Charges
Made Against Lieutenant Nikolai Gregorovich Redin
Redin is charged with specific violations of Title 50, USC., Sections
31a, 31b, and 34.
This statute is concerned with espionage. Specifically, Redin is
charged with having obtained information of restricted and
confidential nature relating to the construction, equipment and
performance of a United States Naval Destroyer Tender, the USS Yellowstone. In addition, Redin is charged
with having attempted to induce another individual to obtain for him
additional information of a confidential nature relating to the same
ship, and to have conspired with persons unknown to furnish
classified information relative to the national defense to the Union
of the Soviet Socialist Republics. The obtaining or attempting to
obtain the foregoing information by Redin was accomplished with the
intent and reason to believe that the information was to be used to
the injury of the United States and to the advantage of a foreign
nation; to wit, the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics.
These charges were brought against Redin as a result of an
investigation, and this Department is of the opinion that the
evidence which has been brought to our attention is sufficiently
strong for prosecution, or this Department would not have instituted
it.
