Mr. Seeley. The mother; yes. And we felt that the mails shouldn't be trusted for a U.S. passport which we know has a value outside the United States.
Mr. Coleman. Now, you also indicated in the memorandum that, "We should not be bound by the opinion he expressed in paragraph 2 of his letter set out in Moscow Despatch No. 985 of February 28, 1961."
Mr. Seeley. May I get that? It is No. 585. The paragraph that we are referring to reads: "I desire to return to the United States, that is if we could come to some agreement concerning the dropping of any legal proceedings against me. If so, then I would be free to ask the Russian authorities to allow me to leave. If I could show them my American passport, I am of the opinion they would give me an exit visa."
The item in the memorandum concerns itself mainly with his request for agreement concerning the dropping of any legal proceedings against him.
Mr. Coleman. You indicated that the Department ought not to give such agreement.
Mr. Seeley. Yes.
Mr. Coleman. Did you have any discussions with Mr. Johnson with respect to this March 31, 1961, memorandum?
Mr. Seeley. Yes, sir. I don't have a complete recollection of it, but I do know that I did discuss this particular item, particularly the mailing of the passport, with Mr. Johnson.
Mr. Coleman. And do you recall what Mr. Johnson said?
Mr. Seeley. I think Mr. Johnson was the one that instructed me to draft this so that we would not send this through the mail, so that the passport would not be sent through the mail.