Word: russia
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Dates: during 1930-1939
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Precedent. Last week, when Germany embarrassed Russia by anchoring City of Flint at Murmansk, the U. S. State Department moved with calm deliberation. It asked its officials in Oslo, Moscow and Berlin for information. Alexander Kirk, chargé d'affaires in Berlin, made informal inquiries, reported the German claim that inadequate charts had forced the City of Flint to take refuge at Murmansk. What Germany demanded of Russia was not known. What the U. S. wanted was clear: it wanted information about the whereabouts and welfare of the crew. Coupled with U. S. playing down of the case, that...
...Russia grabbed the proffered deuce. Heavy-featured, impassive Vice Commissar for Foreign Affairs Vladimir Potemkin promised thin-featured, intense U. S. Ambassador Laurence Steinhardt full information as soon as it was available. Seldom has a simple request produced such odd results. The U. S. was absolved from taking a stand until the promise was kept. Russia announced that the German prize crew had been interned. That would imply that the ship would be released to its U. S. crew. Ambassador Steinhardt pressed for more information. Russia announced that the German crew had been released. That would suggest that the ship...
Procedure. Russia's position was beginning to look embarrassing. Plain fact was that, as soon as City of Flint sailed under the German flag, it risked capture by British warships, faced at the minimum a 1,300-mile voyage through blockaded waters, at least 50 miles of known mine fields, to reach a German port. Equally plain was it that, if Russia permitted the ship to remain in port, she violated international law, that if she released it to her U. S. owner (as the U. S., after a Supreme Court decision, eventually released the Appam), she would antagonize...
...third day of City of Flint's stay, Ambassador Steinhardt, armed with new instructions from Washington, talked over the case with Foreign Commissariat officials. Hour and a half later the Soviet radio announced that Russia was releasing the ship on condition that she leave Murmansk at once. Next day Ambassador Steinhardt slapped down his trumps. With an indignation compatible with the strength of his position, he: > Accused the SovietGovernment of refusing to cooperate in providing information...
Commissar Potemkin based his reply on various inadequacies of the Russian communication system, customs of the country, lack of information, "well-recognized principles of international law," and the obligations of a neutral. As for turning the vessel and her cargo over to her U. S. crew, Russia had made a final decision that to do so, unless the German prize crew refused to take it out, would be an "un-neutral...