703.5464/11–2044: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kennan) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 20—12:48 p.m.]
4420. Embassy’s 3602 September 20, 10 p.m., and 4188, November 1, 11 a.m.,96 and of our note of September 28 transmitting the substance of the Department’s 2275 September 23, 9 p.m.97
A note dated November 16 has been received from the Foreign Office acknowledging receipt of the Embassy’s memorandum of September 19 regarding Swiss representation of American Interests in enemy territory.
The Foreign Office’s note states that since there are no diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and Switzerland, the Soviet Government cannot instruct Soviet military authorities in liberated territories to enter into contact with Swiss representatives.
The Foreign Office adds that the information contained in the Embassy’s note of September 28 with respect to the buildings of the British and Belgian Legations in Budapest has been transmitted to the competent Soviet military authorities in order that they may take measures for the protection of these buildings.
The Department will note that the information provided in our note of September 28 concerning the location of the special division of the Swiss Legation in Budapest has been pointedly ignored.
- See vol. iii, p. 625, for telegram 4188, in which the Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kennan) gives several reasons why in general he feared that the United States would “get little satisfaction out of the Russians with respect to the recognition of the role of the Swiss in protecting our interests in territory occupied by Russian forces”.↩
- Not printed; it listed, for information of Soviet authorities, addresses at Budapest for maximum protection (701.5464/9–1944).↩