311.6121½

Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Edward Page, Jr., of the Division of European Affairs

Participants: Mr. Andrei Gromyko, Counselor of the Soviet Embassy;
Mr. Loy W. Henderson, Assistant Chief, Division of European Affairs;
Mr. Edward Page, Division of European Affairs.

Mr. Gromyko states that on March 1 three Soviet citizens by the names of Zhukov, Gapuzin and Davidyarov and an American translator, Kroll, were arrested on leaving the Melrose Hotel in Toledo. It appears that four bandits had crossed into Ohio from Michigan and that the above men had been picked up by the police. They were detained for two hours and were not permitted to get in touch with [Page 259] the Soviet Consulate General in New York. Mr. Gromyko stated that he wished the Department would investigate the matter and cause the Toledo police to be reprimanded.

Mr. Henderson stated that during recent years many American citizens had been detained in the Soviet Union for taking photographs and for other minor offenses, and that the Soviet police had not permitted them immediately to communicate with the Embassy. Mr. Henderson asked if he was to understand, in view of Mr. Gromyko’s representations, that the Soviet authorities would permit American citizens detained by the Soviet police immediately to communicate with the Embassy.

Mr. Gromyko, somewhat embarrassed, stated that he was not making a protest, but merely wished to bring the matter to our attention. He obviously desired to let the matter drop once Mr. Henderson had injected his remarks regarding American citizens in the Soviet Union.

Mr. Henderson said that he would bring the matter to the attention of the proper authorities in the Department.

It is suggested that no action be taken in this matter.76

E[dward] P[age]
  1. A postscript was added by Mr. Henderson which stated: “I told Mr. Gromyko that judging from his story, I was convinced that the arrest and investigation were not prompted by the nationality or the occupation of the Amtorg employees. When a dragnet for criminals is out the police are likely to subject all persons who might meet the description of the fugitives to careful scrutiny. He insisted, however, that the police should be given a lecture for failing to allow them to telephone the Embassy.”