411.61231/10–1050: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
851. At appointment with Barbour at Foreign Office this afternoon made at Foreign Office request, Acting Chief Protocol Bushuev raised question of failure unload shipments for Soviet diplomatic officials on SS Batory.1
Bushuev read, but did not give copy of, statement in substance as follows. On September 7, 24 cases of Soviet food products for the Soviet Ambassador in Washington arrived in New York on SS Batory but were not delivered. In July 1950, 12 cases for Jacob Malik were refused space on American ships in London. It is alleged that the stevedores at US ports would not unload these diplomatic shipments, failure to deliver constitutes gross breach diplomatic courtesy and practice. Meantime Soviet authorities have given every facility to shipments to the American Embassy, Moscow which in last six months amounted to some 70 in number.
Barbour replied that he was unaware of London case but that circumstances of Batory shipment were generally known to him and it is his understanding that stevedores refusal to unload ship was in fact cause of its non-delivery, that matter has been under discussion between Soviet Embassy, Washington and Department which is of course prepared to take all proper steps to facilitate diplomatic importations. As for Soviet facilities to the American Embassy in Moscow, on the other hand all sorts of obstacles have been encountered by Embassy in recent months in matter of its diplomatic imports. In first place Soviet quota system arbitrarily limits imports and has no counterpart in US or other diplomatic practice. Furthermore, [Page 1262] Protocol Division to whom Embassy of necessity made numerous representations in effort to overcome Soviet customs and other difficulties should be aware of multitude of problems continually arising.
Bushuev remarked that Soviet regulations require customs inspection when goods do not physically accompany a traveller across Soviet frontier and stated that transport problems had unfortunately on various-occasions prevented such accompaniment (This refers to frequent failure to bring baggage cars across Finnish-Soviet frontier on alleged grounds of mechanical breakdown which has been major source complications). Barbour noted that example cited was typical of difficulties placed in way US Embassy shipments in Moscow which do not occur in the US.
Chief of Protocol was assured that all proper courtesies and facilities would continue to be extended Soviet diplomatic shipments to US and hope was expressed Soviets would reciprocate. Bushuev was also informed that US Government would be advised of conversation and agreed that if matter to be pursued further such discussion would take place Washington.
In conclusion Bushuev expressed appreciation of Embassy informing Department and stated that on its part Soviets will facilitate importations for Embassy Moscow.
- Regarding the Batory incident, see also pp. 1036 ff.↩