701.60d61/15: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 1—11 a.m.]
985. The Finnish Legation informed me today at 2 p.m. that in response to its request this morning for the issuance of Soviet exit visas to all non-Soviet members of its staff and laissez passer to the Minister and diplomatic officers of the Mission, the Chief of Protocol Division94 of the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs stated that neither visaes nor laissez passers will be issued until the Soviet Government receives assurances that its representatives in Finland are safe and have been permitted to depart with usual diplomatic courtesies. Notwithstanding my 983 of December 1, noon,95 Moscow is uncertain that its telegrams to Helsinki are being delivered and it therefore requests that the above information concerning the status of the departure of the Minister and his staff be brought to the attention of the Finnish diplomatic Mission abroad for transmission to the Finnish Government.