Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, Europe, Volume IV

711.94114 Supplies/214

The Embassy of the Soviet Union to the Department of State

Aide-Mémoire

In reply to the memorandum of the Soviet Government on the question of delivery to Japan from the United States of parcels for the Allied prisoners of war and interned civilians, the Japanese Government, informing the Soviet Government of its consent to accept parcels intended for the American and British prisoners of war and internees, has suggested as a point of transference of the above freights the port of Vladivostok. This suggestion is not acceptable for the Soviet Government as the port of Vladivostok, being a principal naval base of the Soviet Union in the Sea of Japan, has been closed for Japanese vessels from the moment of Germany’s attack on the U.S.S.R. Desiring, however, to assist the American Government to the maximum extent in the delivery of said freights to Japan and striving to find an acceptable way of solution of this question the Soviet Government is ready to carry out the transference of freights, at present in Vladivostok, either at the border railroad station Manchuriya,⁹⁰ or in the Soviet port Nakhodka in accordance which the Japanese Government prefers.

As to the American freights that will follow and are to be reshipped to Japan for the above-mentioned purpose the Soviet Government agrees to designate the port of Petropavlovsk on Kamchatka, which the Japanese vessels could enter for the reception of these freights.

The Soviet Government having informed the Japanese Government regarding the above, has expressed the hope that its suggestion would not meet with objections on the part of the Japanese Government.

The Soviet Government will not fail to inform the Government of the United States on the subsequent developments.

Washington , May 29, 1944.

90. Manchuli (Manchouli), or Lupin. Shipment of freight by way of this junction point would involve a trip of 2996 km. over the main line of the Transsiberian Railroad from Vladivostok to Karymskaya, and thence 366 km. over a branch line to Otpor, the border station in the Soviet Union opposite Manchuriya, on the former Chinese Eastern Railway, for transfer to the Japanese. This route may also have been the way intended by Vyshinsky as his alternate suggestion reported in the second paragraph of telegram 1874 from Moscow, May 25, supra.