Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume V

811.42700 (R)/8–649: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Kirk) to the Secretary of State

confidential

Moscow, August 6, 1949—1 p. m.

1963. Embtel 512, March 1.¹ Soviet propaganda and official statements contrasting their record on repatriation question with inhumane practices US continues to be replete with distortions and inaccuracies. Latest example this characteristic Soviet tactic revealed in New York Herald Tribune (Paris edition) report August 1 meeting ECOSOC which has Just come Embassy’s attention. Press account quotes Kulagenkov² as asserting Soviet Union had repatriated 22,000 American citizens while US refused repatriate Soviet citizens.

Embassy not aware basis Kulagenkov’s figure but assumes in main he referred to American soldiers liberated from German camps in last months war. Excluding bona fide USPW’s Embassy records indicate out of total approximately 2,000 claimants American citizenship residing under Soviet jurisdiction at end war only 119^* have been repatriated to date and all but 3 of latter figure had left USSR prior 1948. As Department aware despite all Embassy efforts no American citizens have been permitted depart in 1949 (Embassy A–686 June 24³). In view monotonous regularity with which Soviets return to their thesis this issue and in light possibility our DelECOSOC not fully informed situation confronting American citizens residing USSR Embassy has felt justified in again commenting on this question. From here it seems US record repatriation problem particularly strong and one which affords continuing opportunity expose familiar yet persuasive Soviet device of distorting an issue by accusing other nations of reprehensible practices which its own government is employing (Embdesp 343 June 16⁴ and Embtel 1935 August 4⁵).

Sent Department 1963, repeated Geneva 24 for USDel.

Kirk

:

1. Not printed.
2. Anatoly Georgiyevich Kulazhenkov was the Ambassador of the Soviet Union to Switzerland.
3. D[epartment of] S[tate] figures show 129 (125 if subtract 2 POWs and Alton C Kennedy, seaman who served sentence, and Anna Louise Strong. EE/VHJ [Footnote in the source text.]
3. The Embassy reported In this airgram, not printed, that it had reviewed the whole problem of the protection and repatriation of American citizens residing in the Soviet Union. Because of the intentions and the practices of the authorities of the Soviet Union in this matter, the Embassy felt obliged to conclude that the time was “clearly not far distant when all citizens residing Soviet Union and still at liberty, regardless validity their claim to exclusive American citizenship and despite utmost Embassy efforts on their behalf, will have accepted Soviet passports and have abandoned their efforts to depart from the USSR.” (361.1115/6–2449)
4. Not printed, but see the Emabassy’s information concerning Soviet exit visas of June 16, p. 617.
5. Not printed.