861.4061 Motion Pictures/99: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman)
893. After consulting with various persons regarding the award of Soviet decorations to the motion picture personalities listed in your 1141 of April 1,38 it appears impossible to determine which, if any, of the persons listed are at present in the Armed Forces of the United States or are civilian employees of Government departments or agencies, [Page 859] without making direct inquiries of the motion picture authorities in Hollywood which would involve considerable delay and would probably lead to its becoming public knowledge that the Soviet Government was contemplating the awards in question.
It is accordingly suggested that you inform Soviet authorities that there would be no objection to the awarding of decorations in question except in so far as our laws may prevent acceptance by persons employed by United States Government. You should explain to them that the persons may fall into one of the following three classes:
- 1.
- Civilians not members of Armed Forces or employed by the Government. The Government would have no control over or connection with the granting of decorations to persons in this class.
- 2.
- Members of the Armed Forces. In accordance with new policy quoted in Department’s 837 of April 8, Department of State is eliminated from participation in the handling of such awards. Approval of military authorities should be obtained.
- 3.
- Civilian employees of United States Government. Congressional consent would have to be obtained for the acceptance of these decorations.
Presumably the great majority, if not all of the persons concerned, would fall into category 1.
- Not printed; the Commissariat for Foreign Affairs on March 31, had listed 30 names to whom the Soviet Government proposed to award decorations. It wished to be informed of those persons who were members of the Armed Forces, or who were Government officials. (861.4061 Motion Pictures/99)↩