(UNTITLED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP68-00069A000100050016-6
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 24, 2000
• Sequence Number: 16
• Publication Date: February 10, 1961
• Content Type: MISC

Approved For Release 2000/08/24: CIA-RDPC _ r6
(True Copy-
!NR/CS/FP
Feb. 10, 1961)
No. 720
The Dnbassy of the United states of America presents its
compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Union of
Soviet Socialist Republics and has the honor to draw the Ministry's
attention to the difficulties which have lately arisen in connection
with the dispatch of the Embassy's unaccompanied diplomatic pouches
through Soviet postal channels. In view of the fact that the
dispatch of such pouches has been carried out for a number of
years without difficulty and, in particular, without reference
to limitation as to the number of pouches, the Embassy would be
grateful for the Ministry's assistance in restoring the arrange-
ments which obtained before the present difficulties arose.
Embassy of the United States of America,
Moscow, January 25, 1961.
FJMeehanmak
State Dept. declassification & release instructions on file
Approved For Release 2000/08/24: CIA-RDP68-00069AO00100050016-6
 Approved For Release 200&08/24: CIA-RDP68-00069A000'I0050016-6
(True ^oI?y-
'eb.
L:_TI3F-','U 10 I1F
As suggested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on
December 10. 1960, the Embassy raised the question of unaccompanied
di loniatic vouches with the Moscow Customs House, as the competent
;k,viet authority. The Customs House stated, on December 30, 1960,
that the Ministry of Communications was competent in the issue which
has arisen, and undertook to clarify the issue with the Ministry of
Commmunications. On January 6, 1961, the Customs House informed the
lbassy that neither i t nor the 'Piinistry of Communications was
competent, and that the Embassy should once more address itself to
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This delay in settlint- the issue
obviously creates difficulty for the Embassy's operations.
The ;fnistry of Poreign Affairs and the Customs House have
referred to an A~1 ? a re meat of January, 2.955, between the
F?-lba,sy and the inistry of Communications setting a weekly limit
of 8-1? on the number of unaccompanied diplomatic rouch-s to be
sent b- the }ahnp!GY :hrou - `: -vi.et ?ostal channels. The Customs
Approved For Release 2000/08/24: CIA-RDP68-00069AO00100050016-6
 Approved For Release 20QW08/24 : CIA-RDP68-00069A000 ?0050016-6
_2-
,louse referred on T)ecemher 30 to a written
agreement to this r;f'?'p(?t +
but on January 6 fit.at-ed that no written agreement was involved, merel,
a R'inistr y of Cormm"nirntions record of the conversation of the time.
The nbassy has to! the lenartment of State records carefully
checked, and has also .een in touch with the Rmbnssy representative.
who took part in the January 195t discussions with the iri stry of
oimn nications. These investi.ations confirm that no written aqree-
merit is involved. The anbass - representative who took part in the
discussions recalls that there was no indication from the soviet side
concerning limitations in response to his statement on the number of
pouches to be sent at that time. Since that time, as the '?.inistr ,r of
Foreign affairs is doubtless aware, the Embassy has regularly sent
Touches considerably in excess of the figure now said to constitute
an agreed weekly limit, without ob ection of any kind from the Soviet
side. It may also be recalled that the Ministry note.of October 21,
1954, does not mention=any limitation on the number of pouches. The
Enrassy wishes also to point out that the Government of the 0ted
ter imposes no restrictions as to the number Of unaccompanied
diplomatic Touches rece .gyred or sent by foreign diplomatic missions
in the UnifA States.
Embassy of the United rtes of America,
"oscow, January 25, 1961.
Approved For Release 2000/08/24: CIA-RDP68-00069A000100050016-6
% FJMeehanmak