139. Letter From Foreign Minister Gromyko to Secretary of State Herter0
Esteemed Mr. Secretary Of State: With reference to your letter of October 222 regarding the departure of certain persons from the Soviet Union for the United States of America, I would like to note that the position of the Soviet Government on this question was set forth in general outline in my letter to Vice President Nixon of November 17.3
The Soviet Government has held and continues to hold the point of view that questions of reuniting relatives who are separated must be regarded with appropriate attention, and the appropriate Soviet organs invariably are guided by this approach in examining all concrete requests for departure from the Soviet Union. Incidentally, as I have been informed, a number of requests for departure from the USSR to the USA have been approved recently.
As concerns the manner of examining such questions, in accord-ance with generally accepted practice emigration matters can be taken up only in those instances where there is an official request from the person desiring to depart.
I was glad to learn from your letter that the Government of the United States for its part does not intend to place obstacles in the way of the departure from the USA to the USSR of those persons desiring to do so. I allow myself to express the hope that in the future the American authorities, in accordance with this principle, will show the necessary cooperation in the departure of such persons for the Soviet Union.
Respectfully,
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 261.1111/12–2159. Confidential. The source text is labeled “Informal Translation.” A memorandum from Service to Calhoun, December 21, attached to the source text, indicates that Soviet Counselor Smirnovsky handed this letter to Richard H. Davis on December 21.↩
- If the letter was actually delivered on December 21, the date of the letter is in error.↩
- Not found.↩
- Document 138.↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩