361.1115 Kujala, Arthur J./24: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in the Soviet Union (Grummon)
Washington, July 28,
1939—5 p.m.
107. Your 406, July 25, 10 a.m.
- (1)
- Unless you perceive some objection thereto, you should seek an interview with a responsible official of the Foreign Office, possibly Potemkin, in view of his expression of regret that you did not take up the Rubens case direct with him, and acquaint him with all the circumstances in the case, not failing to point out that Kujala was arrested, convicted and sent to prison, where he remained for more than a year without notification of his arrest having been made to the Embassy as provided for in the exchange of notes between the President of the United States and Litvinov of November 16, 1933. You may further explain to him that in accordance with existing laws and regulations no American passport may be issued to Mr. Kujala unless he makes an application therefor in the presence of an American Foreign Service officer.
- (2)
- You may state that your Government fails to understand the attitude of those Soviet authorities who insist that Kujala shall not be permitted to see a member of the Embassy staff before leaving the [Page 914] Soviet Union, and you may inform him that you have been instructed by your Government to request that an American Foreign Service officer be permitted without further delay to visit Mr. Kujala or that the latter be allowed to appear at the Embassy.
Hull