124.61/145: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union ( Steinhardt ) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 5—6:17 p.m.]
24. Evidence that the Soviet Government is endeavoring to isolate the Soviet Union from the outside world to a greater extent than ever before is accumulating. The Diplomatic Missions are no exception to this policy. Since the reestablishment of the press censorship (see my telegram No. 1153, December 29, 2 p.m.39) the following progressive steps have been taken by the Soviet authorities. Until about December 10 open mail addressed to members of the Embassy staff, while [Page 245] surreptitiously opened and read, was not withheld. During the past 3 weeks formal censorship has been in effect and open mail addressed to me and members of the Embassy staff in addition to being censored is now being held for approximately 2 weeks after its arrival in Moscow before being delivered. This morning, on endeavoring to telephone Riga, I was advised by the director of the telephone system that hereafter only local calls would be accepted from the Embassy and that long distance calls may only be made on personal appearance at the central telephone station.
- Not printed.↩