Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Eastern Europe; Soviet Union; Eastern Mediterranean, Volume VIII

611.61/5–653: Telegram

No. 593
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the Soviet Union¹

secret

Washington, May 6, 1953—6:32 p.m.

816. We have considered carefully how best capitalize on recent Soviet developments to further solution many bilateral issues between US and USSR and satellites. Copy memorandum giving further background information our thinking this regard being transmitted you separately.² Our conclusion is that initially it would be desirable for you seek interview with Molotov (urtel 1552³) and raise with him matters Soviet wives American citizens, Balashova children and American soldiers Knight and Michalowski. Leave method approach these cases your judgment. However seems to us that, aside from general humanitarian grounds, it might be effective suggest hollowness to US public Soviet professions desire improve relations in absence solution such problems. In addition foregoing desire you raise at same time with Molotov Oatis case.⁴ Do not believe it advisable you enter into details latter, but you might take line that, while Soviets not directly concerned, continued imprisonment Oatis is major deterrent in US to credibility sincerity Soviet-sponsored effort clear atmosphere and in circumstances would be Soviet interest to exert influence its friends in Czecho to obtain release. You might note Oatis is eligible under Czech law for commutation sentence to deportation, that this Government has made repeated efforts with Czechs, including transmission March 30 confidential message from President to Czech President Zapotocky, and in meantime, while substantive response Czech authorities has been awaited, Czechs have issued amnesty decree.

FYI. Language amnesty appears to exclude espionage cases such as Oatis but in absence positive statement from Czechs believe important we take position decree should apply to him.

Dulles

1. Drafted by Barbour (EUR/EE); cleared by Bonbright and Merchant (EUR), Matthews (G), and Smith; and signed by Barbour for the Secretary.
2. Not further identified.
3. In telegram 1552, Bohlen observed that he had avoided seeking an interview with Molotov to deal purely with USSR–U.S. problems of a primarily humanitarian concern as the cases of six Soviet wives of American citizens and the children of another such wife. Bohlen felt that there was an understandable interest to take up this question with the Soviet Foreign Ministry in the hope that the new circumstances in the USSR might increase the chances of positive results. Furthermore the British Ambassador had intervened on a similar case and obtained the release of one Soviet spouse. Bohlen asked the Department if an approach by him to Molotov on this matter in the near future would conflict with other considerations. (Microfilm telegram files, “Moscow incoming FY 53”)
4. Regarding the imprisonment and eventual release by Czechoslovak authorities of American correspondent William Oatis, see Documents 1 ff.