Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume V

124.61/11–2249: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the Soviet Union

secret

Washington, December 9, 1949—7 p. m.

906. Embtel 2912 Nov 22¹ Dept agrees desirability and importance arrange exit visas Sov wives Emb and press staff members but would not wish any representations this regard to interfere with primary responsibility exit permission for Amer citizens (Depins 183 Nov 16²).

Suggest therefore that matter Sov wives be postponed until appropriate moment when it may be brought up without effect on citizen question. View settlement Amtorg case³ doubtful any profit to be gained therefrom connection wives.

Assume Emb will satisfy itself prior to any representations that wives in question not excludable under 1918 Act and that visas issuable promptly in event exit permits granted.

Acheson

1. Not printed. Ambassador Kirk pointed out that “no action has been taken [in] recent months” on the problem of securing exit visas for the Soviet wives of Embassy personnel and press representatives. He now suggested that while he was “not sanguine results, seems to us worthwhile make informal effort utilize whatever impetus there may be in nearing end first year tenure as US Ambassador Moscow supplemented by such other leverage as may be available.” (124.61/11–2249)
2. Not printed. It contained comments upon and recommendations for the Embassy’s efforts in behalf of American citizens being detained in the Soviet Union.
3. For documentation in regard to the compulsory registration of the Amtorg Trading Corporation under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, see pp. 754 ff.