SOVIET POSTAL INTELLIGENCE

Created: 5/1/1962

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

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NTELLIGENCE (u)

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OF CONTENTS

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I. I

II. SOVIET POSTAL

Mall

En Route for Soviet

POSTAL REGULATIONS AND

- A. Procedures lor Mailing and Receiving

for Mailing and Receiving Banderol- Mail

for Mailing and Receiving

Handling of Internal Periodical

P. Soviet Postage Stamps and Stamp

MAIL

of Internal

c. Censorship of International

D. Censorship of Printed

APPENDIX AArticles Prohibited and Conditionally Accepted for

Internal

APPENDIX BArticles Prohibited and Conditionally Accepted for

Mailing aa International Postal

APPENDIX CList of Articles Allowed To Enterermit

When Intended lor Personal

GLOSSARY OF SOVIET POSTAL TERMS AND CATEGORIES . .

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II. SOVIET POSTAL SERVICES

The public and government mails or the USSR axe operated andin conjunction with the telephone and telegraph services, by the Ministry of Communications with the Ministry placing emphasis on the handling of government mail. The Ministry of Communications does not provide all of the postal and telecommunication services. Other ministries provide their own, alone or In collaboration with the Ministry of Communications. Of these other ministries, the Ministry of Defense conducts the greatest amount for itself. Furthermore, the Ministry of Defense exerts direct influence on the Ministry ofunder normal conditions and may have full control underor war conditions.

The basic production units of the Soviet postal system are the main post offices, post offices, communications offices, androduction unit of the postal system is an enterprise having, aside from Its production functions, administrative autonomy, Any of thesemayonsolidated or specialized enterprise, depending on the services assigned to them. In addition, postal services areby substations and postal agencies which are not autonomousbut whichart of the production network of main post offices and are under their administrative control although physically situated apart from them. In practice, therefore, substations and postal agencies are also referred to as enterprises.

The network of substations and postal agencies is broken downto the conditions under which the service is performed:

Enterprises which accommodate all those requiring postal services for generalgeneral public, State, Party, managerial and social organizations, etc.

"Closed" enterprises for the accommodationimited group ofplants, educational institutions, etc.

Seasonal enterprises openedemporary basis to accommodate seasonallog-floating,s well as health resorts, army camps, etc.

Main" post offices, post offices and communications offices withnetworks of substations and agencies, are found in oblast, kray, and republic centers, and in individual cities under theof an oblastepublic. Osrug and 'rayon* communications offices are located to okrug and rayon centers,etwork ofsubstations and agencies.ule, populated places below the rayon level are served only by substations or postal agencies. There are postal enterprises known as substations for mall transport, which serve postal communicationswater, and air. They areat railway junctions, at the starting and terminal points of large railroad lines, and at the junctions of rail, water, and airroutes.

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The postal service has been improved in the last few yearsertain amount of mechanisation, but the machines which are in use usually are semiautomatic and are located only ih the larger cities, frequently on an experimental basis. Although the growth of the postal services in the USSR under the Soviet regime is Impressive, the improvement in services has lagged considerably behind the need. Each year the amount of mail increases.he growth in total volume of mail has averaged about one billion pieces per year. This Increase is in all types of mail, but the greatest increase and largest volume is in newspapers and periodicals which comprise overercent of the mail. (In the USSR the bulb of the newspapers and journals are-disseminated locally through the mails and delivered to the subscriber by theSoviet planning has recognized the insufficient progress which has been made in overcoming this lag, and it is believed that the capacity for handling the mail will increase through expansion of the number of post offices and the use of mobile post offices as well as the gradual increase of mechanization in large postal centers and In the handling of the mail on postal routes.

A. INTERNALost Offices

Postal enterprises vary in size and services from Ihe large mainoperating with substations to the recently popular mobileoffice hours customarily are00 hoursours. The larger post offices in cities, however, are openpartial services. For example, atost Office on(ulitsa Gor'kogo,n Moscow, the general delivery0 hours, and service for mailing registered andis maintaineday. At the Main Post) service for mailing money orders and receivingletters is maintained around the clock. City post officesinflux of patrons in the morning immediately after opening,and0 hours. Travelers have reportedostMoscow to be busiest

Directly Inside the entrance of post offices are usually placed large, Wooden, squarish boxes for the deposit of mall. One of these will be labeled for international mall, but in general Soviets ignore thisand drop their mall indiscriminately Into the box which is most convenient. Along the walls are located the service windows, labeled as to the type of services performed. These windows are not arrangedell distributed workload,ne window mayinor function, whereas another window will service several major functions. In small post offices there willervice window for packages; ta large post ofilces packages are received and mailedeparate room. Post offices are furnished with writing tables for the use of patrons. These tables are equipped with old fashioned pen staffs and nibs, purple or blue ink, and pots of. glue. To the rear of the lobby

will be found the post office boxes which may be rented byor organisations for the receipt of mail. They have opaque fronts, are numbered, and are secured by lock and key.

oscow Post Office

(Oor^ogoain floor, boxes In rear center.

Note tiers of post office

post offices are situated in positions toecial groups, such as university students or hotel guests, as well as at points to serve the general public. Some information on hotel post offices may befor the travelers' personal use. These post offices are open0 hours0 hours, Monday through Friday,0 hours0 hours, Saturday and Sunday. Letters and packages ot books may be mailed; stamps, writing paper, post cards,ay beIncoming mall is delivered to each floor supervisor's desk and the guests pick up their mall at this desk. If the travelerotice is sent to him at the hotel and he calls personally at the main post office for the package.

Intourist notified travel agencies In1ew post office has been opened in Moscow to provide postal services exclusively for tourists arriving to Moscow. They request that general delivery correspondence (and telegrams) to Moscow tourists be addressed,

Moscow,

333

Poste Res tan

IH

SKGBBT/I

This post office ls locatedorkiy Street (Hotel National, entrance from Gorkiy Street) and La open daily0 hours0 hours According to Intourist, the post office will handle cables, mall, sell coupons for long distance telephone calls, stamps, envelopes, etc.

It remains to be seen how effective this new post office will be Inservices for the tourist in Moscow, or how it will work for the tourists who are staying at other hotels.

ervices Available Inffices General Delivery (do vostrebovantya) Letters registered and insured Packages mailed

Stamps, stamped envelopes, post cards sold Money orders sold

Addresses obtained by mailing address card (directory service) Boxes for mailing packages sold Packages wrappedee) Letters addressed or writtenee) Telegrams received (also sent from select post offices) Philatelic sales Savingstility bill! paid

Tax payments for radio receivers accepted Magazine and newspaper subscriptions accepted Certain telephone service In selected post offices

J. Street Mail Boxes

Street mail boxes are found near the entrances of buildings fre- -quented by the public: post offices, hotels, railway stations, and at sidings, piers, airports, and tn city areas near street intersections. They are attached to larger structures as buildings and fences, and rest about three feet above ground level The ordinary Soviet street mail box la blue; however, In the provinces all types of old boxes of various colors ore still in use, and sometimes the boxes are mounted on poles.

The slot may be on the top or front of the mail box. Reports differ on the width of thegive the widthf an inch and others,nches. The blue boxes carry the shield of the USSR on the front with the Russian word ITOHTA {POChTA) written horizontally below the shield in large white letters. Near the bottom of the box is the number (box numbers do not run consecuUvrly)oticeu> mall collections. The notice may consistchedule of collection times, or more often, of the number of collections per day and the hours between which collections occur. Generally In crUes there aro five or six collections,00 hours00 hours. In Moscow the mail ls collected seven times per day on week days,

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Ficurktreet mall box ot Inchedence In Moscow. Mall Is collected from street mall boxes by meansanvas bag aboutnches deepircumference to match the dimensions of the box. The mouth of the bag is formedteel frame. The collector places the frame under the bottom of the mall box, and the box is auto-

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matlcally opened allowing the letters to fail into the bag. Removal ot the steel frame automatically locks the box.

ail Deliver**

Mall deliveries are made0ours, and theof deliveries varies widely in different size towns and rural locations. The majority of cities have at least two deliveries each weekday and one on Sunday. In Moscow there are two deliveries per day in the residential areas, whereas the business districts may have as many as four or five deliveries per day. Soviet postal officials have stated that In Moscow uny letter postmarked before noon will be delivered tn the afternoon, and letters postmarked in the afternoon will be delivered the next morning.

In rural districts mall is delivered less frequently. Some points In the far north do not receive any mall during the winter freeze, a. Multidwelling Mail Delivery

Until recently all mail deliveries in multidwelling buildings had been made to the door of the apartment Currently the Ministry ofIs urging the installation of individual mail boxes In all multidwelling buildings, one for each family, grouped together on the first floor. Such mall boxes facilitate the work of the postman and thereby speed the delivery of the malL This new method of receiving mail Is considered novel by the Soviets, who report lt In their letters to the West as quite an innovation.

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Apartment house mall boxes. The bozes shown in Figureare homemade, b. Delivery in Post Office Boxes

At the time ofost office box, the applicant gives his home address and shows his pasport (Internal passport). According toostal regulations,ubscriber relinquishes hla box, the same box number may not be used for another subscribereriod of three months.

of Internal Mall

The following types of postal matter hare been established by the Ministry of Communications for mailing "written messages, documents, printed matter, goods, and various articles within the boundaries of

the USSR":

letters

orders

publications (newspapers, magazines, brochureslectures)

Insofar as these types of mall are accepted, handled, and delivered they are further broken down In the following categories: letters and post cards are divided Into regular and registered; banderol' mail Into regular, registered, and insured; insured letters into opened and sealed; money orders into postal and telegraph; packages into Insured and uninsured.

Postal matter from and to institutions, enterprises, and organizations is accepted, handled, and delivered according to different procedures for the following categories:

postal matter.

letters of the Ministry of Finance, USSR.

letters of Gosbank (State Bank) and Prom bankBank).

letters of Zagotzerno (All-Unlon Bureau forand Storage of Grain).

postal matter.

Tranwnittal Categories and Cache ta

All internal Soviet mail is stamped with postal cachets printed ir. the Russian language. The practice in non-Russian speaking areas of using two languages, Russian and the local language, on the time stamp has beenome areas, eg. the Baltic countries, but has been revived in other areas. The timeound cachet giving the place and time of cancellation, is the one cachet which appears on all mail. The place of canceling Is printed around the Insido edge of the stamp. This mayity, town, oblast, or rayon, depending on theenterprise which services that particular locale. The date of

* For ileacrlptlon of bandtroi', see Section in,his service extols for Internal mall only.

canceling appears across Ihe middle ol the circle in the followingmonth, and year. In the event there arc two additional digits, the last two represent the hour.

ml Regular Hall

Ordinary internal surface mail carries only one cachet the time stamp.

Internal airmail differs from internal surface mail only in the amount of postage required and is stamped ABHAMO'ITA {AVIAPOChTA) or ABHAll postal matter, excepting money orders, may be sent by airmail.

Mail

Internal registered mailachetargeollowedpace in which the registry number is enteredegistered Internal postal item usually will also be

Mall

The contents of letters, banderoli. and packages, may be insured. There are two types of Insuredand unsealed. Sealed Insured letters may be sent only by institutions, enterprises andThe insured cachet is similar in format to the registered cachet. To thehe Cyrillic letter, "ll"ollowed by thenumber and the designation ol the postal enterprise.

When letters containing valuable papers and documents arc Insured, the enclosures are recorded by the postal clerk. In the event the letter or enclosures are lost, the post officeertification on which the sender collects Uic insurance. .The amount paid is based on the cost of obtaining new documents.

Delivery Mall

Letters may be sent special delivery from city to city but not Intra-clty. They are sorted before regular mall and given preferentialIn handling. An exemplar of the special delivery cachet is not available,

Mail

Insured parcels, insured letters, and insured bandervU can be. The amount to be collected on delivery Is at the discretion of the sender, but may not be greater than the declared value of the Item being mailed. In addition, an ordinary letter may be sent withoutand the postage will be collected from the recipient.

of Delivery

The sender of registered and insured letters, money orders, banderoli, andmay request that notification of date of delivery beto him.

)

B. INTEBNATIONAX MAIL

International mail is postal matter sent from the USSR abroad orfrom abroad, and also postal matter sent from one foreignlo another through the Soviet Union.

Originally international postal exchanges were governed by bilateral agreements between the countries involved. The different weights and currencies used under this system created too many complications as the volume of international mail expanded.n official of the Postal Administration ol the North German Confederation drewlanostal union between all nations. Delegatesncluding Russia, met in Berne, Switzerland,4 to considerofnion. The results of the convention were the "Treaty of Berne" and the founding of the "General Postalther countries joined with rapidity and in three years the name was changed to the Universal Postal Union. Currently there areundred member-countries.

These member countries have letter traffic with each other. Thusember-country, the Soviet Union has international letter traffic with member-countries, but all other postal services are by agreement with individual countries,

Agreements

The USSR negotiates postal agreements with other member-countries to provide international parcel post services as Postal Union rules are binding only for letters. With countries which are not members of the Postal Union, the USSR has no exchange of mail of any categoryostal agreement has been signed. In these Instances, as there are no previous areas of agreement, the regulations and rates covering all types of mall must be negotiated. The regulations must conform to the USSR regulations for mail entering the country, therefore, the deviations in different agreements are relatively minor.

of International Mail

The following types of postal matter arc accepted for sending out of the USSR abroad, or from abroad to theetters

cards

with business papers with printed publications with publications in Braille with sample goods

letters

packages

eclared value)

' For description olee Section ill. B.

:ret /

The following are unauthorized for mailing to and from theoney orders. postal matter

ransmittal Categoric* of International Mall and International Cachets

All Soviet international mail carries thoF-{MEZHDVN ARODNOY E) cachet printed in Russian.

The time stamp on international mail leaving the Soviet Union is sometimes the same as on internal mail, that is, printed In Russian, but at other times follows international usage and Is printed in French Otherwise, the international postal cachets are different from thecachets for corresponding classes of mall. In accordance with International postal usage, the international cachets customarily have been printed In French, but0dditional cachets have appeared with the Inscription both In Russian and French.

Mail

International mail which is to travel by surface carries only the MEZHDUTfachet and tho time stamp.

International airmail has, in addition to the MEZHDVNARODNOYK cachet and the timelue sticker affixed to the face of the envelope withnd PAR AVION printed in white letters. Asabove, formerly only French was used on these cachets, and some of the old airmail stickers are still in use. The airmail Indicator mayachet Insteadticker.

Mail

In addition to the time stamp and the MEZ11DUNachet, international registered mall is stamped RECOMMANDE and bears another registered cachet consistingargelank space In which the registered number is entered by hand, and the postalIf this last cachetticker, the postal designation will be omitted. In the event an international registered letter Is lost, the responsible country is penalizedold franca (Swiss).

Mail

Trie International Insured cachet, which appears on Insured letters and packages going abroad. Is always stamped on the postal matter. It containstin letter "V, for valcur, the Insured number and the postal designation. In addition, an insured international letter iswith another sticker marked value declared in both French and Russian.

a Special Delivery

All types of international postal matter can be accepted for special delivery to foreign countries with which agreements have been reached establishing this service. Special delivery between the USSR and the

Pi

U3.A. became available during the summerheed sticker marked If

f. Notice of Delivery

Any registered or insured international mall may bo sent or received from abroadequest for notification of delivery.

C. ADDITIONAL MAIL SERVICES

Other than the mail services conducted by the Ministry offor the public, there are additional mall services available to special groups. Some of these are conducted by the Ministry ofothers by other ministries, alone or in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications. This study will not deal with these mail services, but will indicate only the general nature of military, government, and diplomatic mail.

I. Miliary Mail

Military mail is conducted under the direction of the Ministry of Defense in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications.

Regular letters and post cards to and from the members of the armed forces are mailed free. Letters or postcardserviceman, which are to be carried free of postage, must contain in the address the field post office (military unit) number or the nameilitary Institution. Mailerviceman is stampedilitary franking cachet In lieui of postage, This cachetriangle centeredive point star. Written inside the triangle's borders, one word on each side, is soldier, letter, and free (soldatskoye, pw'mo and besplolno) for army-sailoror navy. No exemplars are available for air force personnel.

Cheers must pay postage on packages, whereas enlisted men have Umited Privileges in postage free packages. Packages addressed topersonnel will not be accepted if simply addressed to the field post office number or military Institute, as will letters, but mustomplete addresslace of location.

Postal matter addressed to field post office numbers and military units with no indication of their location, are forwarded to military postal sorting points. All types of postal matter addressed to thea handled by the communications enterprisesestricted basisnployees who must process it have access to military mail At the.delivery point, mililary mail is turned overilitary postman by arrangement between the chief of the communications enterprise and the military unit command.

miUtery mail ceasedurrently noowrtly censored. Only the mail of military personnel

a?roa to overtlyrom the end of the war until the time official censorship was discontinued. During the war all military mad to and from military units stationed both within and without the USSR, was openly censored and stamped as examined by the Military

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Censor. Each Soviet armyilitary Censorship Subsection {Voyen-

inlalry of

SUte Security under one of its directorates in Moscow.

overnment Mail

Registered, and Insured Mai)

ovcmn]entandled by the Commu-nicatens Ministry in accordance with the regulations established for the appropriate type of postal matter. In large enterprises, government mail ta! Pnxessed separately and forwarded in the fastest possible man-Ategular and registered government letters. banderoli, and packages are forwarded separately from other mail of

toone iltm overnment letters are handled and forwarded individually.

Government postal matter Is delivered in the fastest possible manner Qualified postal employee, and telegram deliverers may be used into the regular postman In order to implement fast delivery.

Official Mall

Sensitive government documents are transportedourier system conducted under the direction of the KGB. This service uTaS Feldytgertkaya Svyaf or FeftUvyat. As the majority of government man ts classified, one source estimates thatali government mail is transported by thehis classified mail is divided Into categories of varying sensitivity with specialfor enclosing and sealing the different categories. Allne?nSPOrl'd ta* authorised

1 Diplomatic Mall

s used to transmit the personal mall of Soviet officials stationed ta USSR embassies abroad.

* USSR to ^Uon abroad Ls notrT*b&SS? bul to an addressaddress toost officeanother, as in care of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It Isthat different types of addresses are issued for mailing toIn theorrespondent within the USSR does useembassy address, the mail Is diverted to the Ministry ofand forwarued_by diplomatic pouch. -

D. TIME EN ROUTE FOR SOVIET MAIL

The time required for mail to reach its destination may vary widely Any unurual delay in the delivery of malllta thTop-

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unity for censorship. Uowever. mail is often delayed by inefficient postal processing and for other extraneous reasons. International mail Is especially vulnerable to delays caused by weather conditions,In the event of shipping strikes,nd other seemingly unrelated events. Therefore,elay in time en route may indicate censorship, other factors which may cause delay In the transmittal of the mail must be taken into account.

The majority of the mall both entering and exiting the Soviet Union definitelyonger time than can be accounted for byand postal processing. Mail customarily takes longerthan oxiting the USSR. This would appear to Indicate that mall entering the Soviet Union may be more thoroughly screened than mail leaving the Soviet Union. However, in some cases the situation isthereby disproving any established pattern. When newcorrespondences are first initiated, the times en route, both entering and exiting the Soviet Union, are always longer. This tends to confirm reports that new correspondences are more closely scrutinized by tbe censor (see chapter IV, Soviet Mail Censorship).

Other factors inherent In the letter Itself which Influence the time en routehe types of individualshe mail of certain suspect categories of individuals takes longer forhe manner of addressing the mail,he language used in the address. Letters addressed in the Russian language are processed faster undhorter* time en route than those addressed in otherTlus applies to local languages as well as foreign. Foreigners living In Soviet hotels suffer inordinate delays In the receipt of their mail due. at least in part, to the ineptitude of the hotel postal clerks in readingritten in foreign languages Examinations of the lime stamps on such mail have revealed lime lags between arrival of Ihe letter in the Soviet city and actual delivery at the hotel to be as long as seven days. There isifference In the time required to process letters addressed in various foreign languages. Those addressed, for example, in Farsl are usually two days longer in transit than letters addressed in English.

On the other hand, similar delays are observed in the postal handling of Soviet letters In the United States. Utters from the Soviet Union to the United States have been noted which were backstamped in tho United States city upon receipt and upon delivery, and the difference In the dates indicated the US. Post Office wasays processing the loiters.

Traditionally the internal mail service In the Soviet Union has always been slow, especially in the provinces. Emphasis has been placed on faster service by the Ministry of Communications, and In recent years marked improvement has been shown. Surface mall la sometimes carried by air on kmg routes in order to facilitate better service. Specific limes en route on internal mail are not readily available, therefore, less is known concerning time en route for internal letters than forletters.

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The followingabulated list of pertinent data regarding time en route as shown by specific instances. .

(postmark lo delivery)

Internal

letter

Surface post card Registered letter Honey order Airmail idler

Klrer

Sevastopol'

Leningrad

Kuybyshev

Klyev

Leningrad Tbilisi

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To

(postmark to delivery!

newspaper " magudne Airmail newspaper

Llth. SSR

Amsterdam

Illinois

Moscow

K. POSTAL RATES

In the Soviet Union it Is permissible to mail any postal item, including an ordinary. (nalozhennymhe recipient pays the postage plus an additional charge. Many Soviets believeetter sent without postage is dispatched faster in order that the fee may be collected without delay.

oviet Postal Rates

oncurrent with the re-evaluation of the currency in the USSR, the Ministry of Communications issued new postal rates and new denominations of stamps.

The past four years have seen many changes in postal rates, especially in those of internal airmail. However, none of these changes, with the possible exception of the revision of rates Inave been as all Inclusive as the change made to conform with the newAnd no previous changes have necessitated complete new issues of stamps.

Prior to the revision of rates inostal rates were prominently displayed in post offices on blue and silver posters. After this revision the posters disappeared and published lists of rates have been difficult to obtain since that time. This and subsequent changes were announced in the press with instructions to Inquire at the post office for the new rates.

It is understandable, then,hange on the scale of the most recent one has been confusing and chaotic to the public, Travelers in the Soviet Union in the summer1 found it difficult to obtain the appropriate postal rates for their personal use.

The current known Soviet postal rates are as follows: a. Internal

Cards

Surface AlrmaU

3 kopek: 4

Surface Reclaiercd Airmail

10

Surface Airmail

Registered Surface Registered Airmail

rams oh fraction

b. International

Cms

Surface Airmail

UniM

Surface Airmail

Registered Surface Registered Airmail Special Delivery

* (4

6 16

18

16

a&ditiosalrams oa fsacttos

kopek

ostal Rates to the Soviet Union

a. Letters

Germany, East (DDR)

Surface Rate: fennig for firstrams andfennig eachgram.

Surcharge (added tofennig for eachrama.

West (Federal*

grams andfennig (or each

Surface Rate: fennigfennig eachrams-

Aerogram Combined rate (total)fennig.

Surface

Air

Aerogram

Norway Surface

Air

6 Pence for first oa.ence for each additional oz, or fraction thereof.

No additionalservice applies. Combined rate Sd.

re for firstrams andre for each additional

rams or fraction thereof.

No surcharge forwhen available.

Air

vs.

Surface Air

Paitcard Aerogram

Canada

Surface Air

Postcard Aerogram

re for firstrams andre for each addlUonal

20

: No surcharge forU-up when available.

or first oa.7 each addlUonal oa.

or eacht. 1

ach rate

or first oz.ach additional ox.5ach

Surface Rate:

runrros for firstramsrwerroa for each addlUonalrama or fraction thereof. Combined airmail rate ofruwrroa forrams.ruzcrros for eachrams.

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Nigeria Surface Air

or first oa andor each addlUonalor each V, or.

PrintedBastRate: fennig for firstrumsfennig for each50 fennig eachrams.

Germany, West (Federal)

Air

England Surface

fennig for firstrams andfennig for eachSO grams.

Pfennig perram.

a Pence for flrstramsence for each addlUonal SO grama.

None.

Air Norway

Air

Aerogram Sweden Surlace

Surface Rale: JS Ore for first SO grams andre for each additionalrams.

re forrains. Combinedre.

Air

Aerogram

VS. Surface

Air

Canada

Surface Air

Brazil Surface

Air

India

Surface Air

Nigeria Surface Air

Ore for flrst SO gramsre for each addlUonalrams.

Ore for SO grama Combined Intore.

SSO perb.S lor each addlUonal lb. or(hereof.

a.or eacha.rale).

or find, oz.1 for each additional ot. Combined airmail3 for each M

6 Cru.i. for firstramsruaerros for each additional SO grams.

Cruserroa for firstrams plusncer-ros for each addlUonalrama.

P. forr.P. for eacha.innP. torrams.

USSR InnP. forrams.

ora.or eachx No available rates

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III. SOVIET POSTAL REGULATIONS AND USAGE

A. PROCEDURES FOR MAILING AND RECEIVING LETTERSddressing Procedures

Although the modes of writing Soviet addresses reflect as manyin individual taste as those in any other country, the componentsoviet address always occur in the following order:

name of the city or town, indicating the oblast (kray.and village soviet where necessary. The name of theor kray may be omitted to cities which are republic orSoviet cities are divided Into postal sones. or regions, and when

applicable, the postal rone number follows the city.

NOTE: In the case of Moscow and Leningrad the zone designationa letter as wellumber.

house number, and apartment number.

first, and patronymic names of the addressee (in theor the full name of the Institution, organization or enterprise.of the patronymic ix necessary excepting In areas in whichhas been nullified by union republic law.

If addressed to general delivery orost office boxity with more than one post office, the post office number must be Included In the address. It Is compulsory to complete the first name and the(except where not required by union republic law) on all postal matter addressed to general delivery. The name of the addressee may be omitted when addressingost office box.

With the exception of addresses to general delivery, postal matter may be addressed to two individuals and In such cases is delivered to either addressee. In addition, the sender may address to one individual for forwarding to another individual. In this case delivery is made only to the first addressee.

The address on postal matter mailed within the borderepublic or autonomous oblast may behe local national language. Tlie -address on postal matter mailed beyond the bordersepublic or autonomous oblast hi written in Russian or In both Russian and the local national language. International mail must be addressed either In the language of tlie country of destination or in French. The names of the country of destination, city, and street address are required to be written in Russian also. However, failure to add these parts of the address in Russian will not cause refusal to transmit tho letter.

The Soviet postal authorities can be very exacting in regard to the addressing and general appearanceetter going abroad. They will

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refuse to transmit an intematJonal letter on such minor countsoiled envelope or the address and return address being written incolors of ink.

Sample addrea* for portal matter tent to republic, oblast ikraYi center, and large elUe*

r

1

cuni'piui- Lfibaiie&co**

Piaoaa to. Sample addreu for postal matter sent to railway station* and sidings

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eturn Addressing Procedures

The return address Is written on the front of the envelope, at the bottom in the ame order as Ihe address. It is notndent but written continuously as space permits. The name may be in either the nominative or dative case. The return address on taternalional mad must be wntten in either Russian or French. The lonowing^ypeT ot letters are required toeturn address:

registered letters

insured letters

addressed abroad

ew In terns UonaJ letters, un. address in spite

.^'naryarc not required toeturn

henrintedeturnlank in this space willconspicuous. Interna] Soviet letters have been observed whichan lncompIete address in this space, as for example, only theUu city and the last

nclosures a. Internal

Items prohibited and Items conditionally accepted in the internal malls terr^^laPP*fiXA Soviet post office will accept and deliverregular and registered letters containing enclosures consisting of:

written

<sound

documents

artistic postmatter

Insured internal letters may have as enclosures all kinds of valuable papers and documents as:

matter

and rrunrlage certificates

b. International

*Prohibitedaternatlonal posUI matter. In addi-

tion, all dutiable articles (for duty-free articles see Book

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are prohibited as enclosures in letters excepting duty-prepaid medicine mailed into the Soviet Union as letter packages (air or surface).prohibited as enclosures for international letters are:

Documents, printed items, prints, photograplis. manuscripts, graphs, drawings, negatives, films,hich can cause political ordamage to the USSR. Paper money of the USSR

Checks, drafts, foreign obligations, stocks and coupons, except in accordance with the regulations nf the State Bank of the USSR

Postage stamps, canceled or not, philatelic collections, obsolete bonds or bills of exchange addressed to private Individuals.

Match-box labels for collectors. If more than oneind is sent,ermit from the Ministry of Foreign Trade.

Playing cards.

Articles prohibited or restricted as parcel post are prohibitedestricted in the postal union mall.

insured international letters may contain documents and objects of value excluding written messages and items forbidden to be mailed.

Attempts to circumvent the above prohibitions In the internatkmal mails have met with varied success during dim-rent periods. Forthereommon belief among Soviets that stamps could be safely enclosed In an international letter providing the letter wasInternational registered letters frequently contained stamps prior6 at which tune this practice began to diminish gradually.7 it had ceased altogether. Instead, if nn Individual desired to send stamps abroad, they were affixed to the outside of the envelope. Again gradually the practice was beginning to recur until the appearance of the new stampshich collectors have foundimpossible to mail in letters, registered or otherwise. Likewise, In the past, handkerchiefs and scarves were consistently removed from letters to the Soviet Union (fabrics are highly suspect ofut.ome enclosures of this nature were reaching their destination, while others were removed. As Identical enclosures sent from the same country to the same locale In the USSR. In some instances, do go through and in others do not, and moreover, as the removal of enclosures, or the return of letters with enclosures, follows no discernible pattern, the foregoing appears to indicate an unevenness In the performance otcensorship.

A Soviet youth related the followingorrespondence he carried onew monthsirl from West Germany. They hadrior agreement that In each letter the girl wouldtick of chewing gum. which Is forbidden to import. Should the chewing gum be missing when the Soviet received the letter, he would know that the letter had been opened and the gum confiscated. The gum was missing from all except three of twelve letters.

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a. Size, Wright, and Wrappings of Letters

Envelope* for Internal letters may vary in size fromillimeters. An international letter may not exceedentimeters in all dimensions and the largest measurement may not exceedentimeters.

The weight of any letter, internal or international, may not be moreilograms.

Insured letters may be mailed in envelopes, or in wrappers of heavy paper, fabric, or oilcloth. Size and weight limits are the same as lor regular letters.

5. Mailing Procedures

Both internal and foreign surface and airmail letters may be mailed In street mall boxes or in post offices, including branch offices at hotels, universities,s well as city branch offices. Street boxes located near places frequented by foreigners are likely to be under surveillance, and the mail in these boxes investigated. This Includes box<rs near hotels, Intourist facilities, railway stations, airports, embassies, etc. Oenerally. Soviets prefer to mailost office not for security reasons but because the mall is processed faster.

The procedures for mailing letters are much less complicated than those for receiving. No documents are required to be shown to mail any type of letter. Letters, except when insured, are no longer required to be presented open at the post office; therefore, it Is necessary to go to the post office toetter only if the letterransaction with tho post office, as Is the case whenoney order, aletter or an insured letter. Technically, ic, according to Soviei postalegistered letter, if properly marked as registered and stamped with sufficient postage, may be droppedailbox. Naturally, the sendereceipt. It is not believed that Soviets take advantage of this technicality by mailing registered letters in this manner.

Whenetter of either of the above mentioned categories at the posteceipt is given to the sender. The procedure Is asthe sender fillshree section form with sender and receivers name and address and the Information appropriate to the type of letter. The sender then detaches one section which constitutes his receipt In villages and rural areas which have no post office, lettersransaction with the post office may be given to the mailman, who will mall the letter at the post office and bringeceipt on his next trip.

Insured letters are presented at the post office open and accompaniedist of contents. The contents may net be insured beyond their value. Documents are Insured for tho cost of obtaining new ones, USSR bank notes are insured for their face value, and foreign currency inwith the official rate of exchange.

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Money orders may be sent by mall or telegraph, but only within the borders of the USSR. Only cash tn USSR currency is acceptable iiiof money orders.

eceiving Procedures

Control of letters is maintained at tlie receiving endreater extent than at the mailing. This control Is accomplished In part by require menu to call it the post office for certain types of letters and.reater extent, by the requirement to show Identification documents beforecertain types of letters. Receiving procedures are the same for internal and International letters of the same type, excepting forletters.

Inhange in postal regulations went into effect which purported to ease identification and simplify mailing and receivingAlthough these changes are noted below. in actual fact they have little significance, with the possible exception of the changesdocumentation and mailing and receiving registered letters.

a. Documentation

Documents which may be used for identification to receive lettersto all other postal matter) arc as follows:

The Internal pasport.

The certificate Issued in placeasport at the addressee's place of work. The certificate musthotograph of the holder, his signature, and indicate that it has been Issued in placeasport

In addition. Issuance of all types of postal matter Is made on the basis of the following documents:

To doputies of the Supreme Soviet. USSR, and supreme Soviets of union and autonomouspresentation of their deputy certificate*.

To students In schools andsingle Identification cards on which tlie school verifies the person and signature of the student

To minor students ofpresentationtudent card containing the photograph and personal signature of the

. holder of the card.

In rural areas where the pasport is not used, substitute documents may be:

Identification card issuedillage soviet or workers' deputy.

Identification card Issuedorker by the enterprise orwhere he works.

A certificate for one time use only for receiving mail Issued by the place of work, village soviet, workers' deputy or kolkhoz administration.

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There alsoethod whereby mall may be received by proxy. An individual may authorize another to receive his mall byower of attorney, citheringle instance orixed period (not to exceed threehe person holding the power of attorney Isto show his paaport when receiving the mull.

b. Letters Delivered to Addressee's Home

Ordinary surface and airmail letters (and post cards) are delivered to tlie addressees home address and are received without showingIn multidwelling buildings, as apartment houses, delivery Is made to mail boxes on the first floor or to each apartment. If delivered to the apartment, the letters are placedox or slot on/in the door. If no box or slot is provided, and If no one is at home to receive the mail, the letter is not left, butotice to call at the post office for the letter.

Delivered personally to the recipient at his address andignature, are special delivery letters, registered letters, money orders. Internal insured letters upubles value in citiesubles in rural areas. Documents arc shown to receive registered letters when the postman finds it necessary to verify the address. Money orderseliveredocument check if the addressee is personally known to the mailman. It Is customary to tip the postman whena money order.

Net Delivered to Addressee's Home

Letters addressed to general deliveryost office box, insured letters and money orders excluded above, international insured letters, and any type of letters wherein attempted delivery has failed, must be picked up at the post office. Before the new postal regulations were in effect. It was required that the recipient show bis pasport for Identification before picking up mall at the post office. This has been nbcralized In twof the recipient is known to the postal clerk, noiso receive registered letters and money orders up toubles, substitute documentsbove) may be shown.

Delivery

General delivery (do vottrebovaniya) Is widely used In the Soviet Union.eneral delivery address all that is necessary in addition to the name, city, and the general delivery Indication, Is the number of the post office In cities large enough to have more than one. Anmust call at the post office lo determine If he has received any mail at general delivery; if he is known to the postal worker the letter Is handed over without showing identification. Otherwise, the pasport is shown to establish his identity.

The propensity of Soviets toeneral delivery address hasbeen questioned. Obviously there couldariety of personal reasons. Foreneral delivery address shields the corre-

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spondent's home address. This could be desirable for simple as well as

(2)

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and convenience. If one calls at the post officeearby office, letters areay earlier than when delivered to the home.

Privacy from family, neighbors,fforded by general

Convenience while traveling, or other uncertain conditions wherein the future specific address ls not known.

Letter Delivery to Hotels

Letters addressed to guests registered ol hotels are delivered to the hotels several times per day. There they are sorted by the hotel poet office and delivered to each floor supervisor's desk. Occasionally the mail clerk delivers letters directly to the room, but this is not required and is done strictlyavor. Only registered letters require aupon delivery, and either the recipient or the floor supervisor may sign. Letters addressed to hotels are often delivered to the wrong individual due to the difficulty encountered by hotel personnel Innames and addresses written in other than the Russian language.

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Improvement In service Irom this point of view may be expected inwith the establishment of the new post office for the use of tourists. Otherwise, it is not known how the new post office will affect mailfor the tourist In Moscow.

orwarding and Returning Procedures for letters

In order to have mall forwardedewostal form,for this purpose, is filled out and left with the post office. When mail is being forwarded, the Cyrillic, "fl"nderlined, and the new address are placed on tbe front of the envelope. In the event anwill be away from homehort time. It is possible to have the mall held at the post officeeriod ofonths. All that isfor this service Is the individual's signature and the expected date of return.

If mail delivery Is not made because the addressee (I) refuses theas moved, leaving no news deceased,s not known at the address, the letter ia returned to the senderaiting period. An Internal letter with no return address Is forwarded to the dead letter office where It is held for one month and then is destroyed. Any undelivered international letter, regardless of whether thereeturn address or not. is relumed to the inlernaUonal postal exchange area from which it was received.

Letters returned to the sender are marked with the Cyrillic Ictler, "B"nderlined, and the place to which the letter Is being returned.

B, PROCEDURES FOR MAILING AND RECEIVING BANDEROL' MAIL

The Russian word for banderol- is generally translated "thirds this class of mall uctually differs from third cluss mail and has no exact counterpart In American mall, the term banderol' is retained for purposes of this study.

BantUrot'lassification of mall characterized by restrictedsize, weight and. In some instances, the manner of wrapping. Listed below are the specifications postal matter must meet lo classify as banderol'.

nternal

Printed publications including books, brochures, magazines, newspapers, photographs, albums, Bralllo texts, maps,catalogues, printer's proofs, sheet music, note books, and paper, etc

Business papers Including statements, powers of attorney, wills, accounts, drafts, diagrams, legal papers, etc.

eeds for planting.

ll other articles of cultural and everyday use excluding food products and articles prohibited from the mails.

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b. IntemoUonal

Printed matter containing periodicals, books, brochures, music, visiting cards, gravures. photographs, pictures, drawings,maps, patterns, catalogues, all kinds of reprints and reproductions made by mechanical printing (except deeds, stamps or typewriting).

Business papers.

Sample goods.

Braille texts.

ite and Weight

The largest dimensions for an internal banderol' isentimeters in each direction and for circular tubes,entimeters In length andentimeters In diameter. If the enclosure cannot be folded, the length may be upeters and the enclosure must be wrappedtick. The smallest dimensions for an interna) banderoF iswiih appropriate thickness.

Weight limit

Printed publications and business papers 2only one

Braille

Seeds and objects of cultural and every- ay use

The dimensionsanderol' addressed abroad must not exceed those set for International letters. The total length, width, andmust not exceedentimeters and the largest of thesemust not exceedolled International banderol-must notentimeters in total measurements, with the length not longer thanentimeters. Minimum size for an International banderol' is the same as for anentimeters.

Weight Limit

Businesskilograms

Printed

If only one

Braille

Sampleg

3. Wrappings

A banderol' may be rolledube and wrappeda per band unlessontainsontains severaleighs more than 5O0 grams,s to be Insured. Any of these conditions requires wrappings which seal the contents on all four sides.

The first three categories listed under internal contents above may be sent as regular, registered, or insured banderol'; but articles foiling in

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the fourth category can be mailed only as Insured. Banderol' may be sent airmail, and Internal insured banderol' may be sent cod: The value of any banderol' is limited toubles.

Procedures for Banderol'

Documents are not shown toanderol'. Insured andbanderol' mail must be presented at the post office unsealed for inspection of contents. The sender of an insured banderol' Allsorm llstuig the contents and their value. After checking thothe postal worker certifies the inventory and packs it in the banderol'. When accepting foregistered banderol', the postal worker cheeks the condition of the wrappings, correctness of the ad-ress and payment, and inspects the banderol' for Illicit enclosures, then seals the banderol'.anderol' Is packed In factory wrappings no Inspection Is made of the contents.

Regular banderol' must be wrapped Inanner that It may be opened to inspect the contents without damaging the wrappings, and may be mailed at the post office ortreet mail box, if size permits.anderol' going abroad the sender must mark on the wrappings the type of contents in French. For example, printed matter must be marked lUPRJMtS.

Procedures tor Banderol'

Regular banderol' is delivered to the addressee's home and received without showingegistered or Insured banderol' is also delivered to the home but is signed for and the Internal pajport (ordocuments; see Receiving Procedures for Letters) is shown In order to establish the identity of the addressee. If the addressee Is not at home for two attemptedotice la left for him to call at the post office for the banderol'. If an insured banderol' Is damaged or short in weight, it is opened and checked against tlie list of enclosures in the presence of tlie addressee.

C. PROCEDI'RES FOR MAILING AND RECEIVING PACKAGES

Internal

a. Contents

It Is permissible to mall "various kinds of items of cultural-everyday use and productive purpose, food products, semi-finished goods, medical preparations, printed matter, live plants, live bees, day-old chicks,n packages" in the Internal mail.ist of articles prohibited from the internal mall, see appendix A. In addition, there are localon shipments of vegetables and fruits from certain cities. The local restrictions are posted on the walls of the post offices concerned.

However, for articles which may be mailed In packages there are specific requirements for packing certain items. Moreover, packages containing vegetables and fruits can not be senteneral delivery Even with this restriction. Soviet post offices are often per-

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moated with the frmcll ol rotten fruit In the summer lime. Packages from quarantined areas are accepted only If presenteduarantine certificate.

Enclosure of written materialackage Is technically Illegal; but this regulation is not enforced, and enclosing written messages inpackages is common practice.

and She Requirements

The maximum weight of an Internal package Isilograms. The maximum dimensions are limited toentimeters in each dimension, and the minimum dimensions permitted arcentimeters In" oneand not less than five in each of the other two. Large items which can not be separated to conform to these requirements may be mailed in packages two meters long providing all other dimensions do not exceed three meters and the weight limit isilograms.

Packing, Addressing, and Evaluating Requirements

One piece, unbreakable, non-bulkyhild's tricycle, may be mailed unwrapped. Packages valued upubles may be wrapped in paper; packages evaluated higher must be packed in wooden or metal boxes and covered with sewn materials unless the articles arr still packed In the original factory wrappings. Any package which is not wooden or covered with cloth must be tied with cord. Scaling tape is not permitted. The Union Republic Ministers ofand Chiefs of Oblast. Kray and Republic Communicationshave the right to establish simpler regulations concerning wrapping of packages which are sent within their own boundaries-Certain items must be packed and wrapped by tlie post office, namely, glass parts, radio tubes, movie film, seeds and grains, fluids, freshbees, poultry, fragile and breakable objects. Otherwise, senders may pack their own packages providing they conform to regulations applying to the different types of contents and wrap the packages inanner that the contents may be inspected. Boxes and packing materials are usually purchased at the post office. Whether or notpackages which are wrapped by the sender are inspected at the mailing point appears to vary in different locales. The postal clerk may inspect the packages, but tlie majority willroperly wrapped and addressed internal package without inspecting the contents.

If the package is packed and wrappedostal employee, it will be handed back lo the (tender for addressing. The address and the return address, which is required on all internal packages, arc written in the same manner asetter.

A package may be mailed without declaring the value of the contents or may be given any value by the sender, providing It does not exceed the actual cost.ackage wrapped in paper may not be valued aboveubles. Packageseclared value may be.

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Procedures

Documents are not shown to mail packages. The sender nils out an address blank which is attached to the package. This address blankhe name and address of sender and receiver (this does not replace the required addressing on the packagehe value and weight of thetatement, if applicable, that the package is fragile oreterinarian or quarantine certificate,f the package contains vegetables or fruits. Tbe postal worker checks the wrappings, addressing, the address blank, and determines If the package is not prohibited at the address indicated, seals the package with wax seals and sends the package on its way.

Procedures

' Thereackage delivery service available Inew cities and rayons,ackage may be delivered to the recipient's home,ee is charged for this service. However. In the main, packages are called for at the post office. The address blanketachable portion which is removed at the receiving post office and mailed to the addressee to notify him heackage. The addressee then calls for thesigns the notice (in cose of home delivery the notice may be signed by any adult member of hisills out the reverse side of the address blank and shows his pasport or substitute documents. The

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signatures are compared, the validity of his documents checked, and the package weighed In his presence. If the weight differs from that shown on the package, the contents may be checked in the presence of the addressee. Otherwise the package is not opened upon delivery. The address blank and the signed notice are retained by the post office as receipts. In the case of returned or forwarded packages, thepays the additional postage.

nternational Packages Packages destined to go abroad can be accepted only to thoseith which the USSR has postal relations and hasostalcovering packages. The packages must conform with thefor packages entering the country In question as well as with the regulations of the USSR. International packages are not accepted by all communications enterprises but only by main post offices andoffices. There is one exception to this otherwise rigidcontaining books may be mailed from any post office.

International packages must be addressed in the language of the country of destination or In French. In addition, the name of tbe country of destination, city, and street address should be written in Russian. However, failure to do tills will not cuuse the package to beeturn address is mandatory and must be written in ink or indelible pencil in either Russian or French.

Soviet newspapers and magazines cannot be enclosed in packages containing other commodities, and are not allowed to be used asmaterial in International packages.

The official postal regulations of the USSRistinctionInternational postal packagesoxshchik} with declarednsured,arcelheir respective requirements are as follows:

a Insured Boxes

; onrenfs

Contents may be articles of jewelry, insured Items, and narcotics for medical or scientific purposes to countries permitting shipment under these conditions. Documents in tho nature of personal correspondence, bank notes, currency, or any kind of paper having value to the bearer areist of contentsopy of the sender andname and address may be Included.

rappings

Insured boxes must be constructed of wood (atillimeters thick) or metal. Both tbe top and bottom of the box must becovered with white paper in order to provide space for thestamps, etc. The box must be tied with heavy twine and the ends of Ihe twine sealed te the wrappings of the box.

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The weight may not exceed one kilogram The dimensions must be wit innentimeters in length.entimeters in widthn height.

Procedures

No documents are shown to mall an insured box. The box Is always presented open at the post office, where the contents are examined and packed by the postal clerk, who also checks the addressing, theand its acceptability at the country of destination.

Procedures

Insured boxes are never delivered to the addressee's home: they are opened and inspected, after identification of the addressee by hisin his presence at the communications enterprise. If the boxitems prohibited from the USSR the package is not delivered and the entire package is returned to the sender. The enclosureetterersonal nature Is not sufficient grounds for returning the box, but the addressee must pay twice the usual rate for the letter.

b.ontents

Parcels sent abroad may contain all types of objects and food products, excluding those prohibited or limited from the Internationa! mails (seearcels have been refused on the grounds that the goods were shoddy and thereforeeflection on the USSR.

rappings

The parcel wrappings must be suitable for the contents, length of route, and condition of shipment. In addition, the wrappings must be such as to allow inspection of contents without damage to the wrappings.

and Weight

No single itemarcel should be longereters. The length and the other greatest circumference may not exceed three meters. Tlie weight limit for packages to each country is established in the bilateral postal agreement concerning packages. The weight limit for packages to and from the United States and the Soviet Union isounds.

Procedures

International parcels are submitted unsealed for verification ofThe sender fills out an accompanying address blank, customs declaration, and inventory of contents II required by the country ofThe sender states on the back of tho address blank theto be made of the parcel in the event it can not be delivered. In the customs declaration the sender lists all objects enclosed In tbe parcel with the quantity, weight, and value of each.

In accepting an international parcel the communications employee, in addition to the inspection performed for an Internal package, deter-

29

hat the country of destination accepts packages from.the USSR and that attached declarations are in accordance with thatrequirements,hat no items in the parcel are prohibited from leaving the USSR. After converting values in accordance with the rate of exchange, he then repacks, seals and weighs the parcel, and writes the exact weight on the wrappings, the address blank, and the customs declaration. In addition to the mailing rate, thereharge for repacking the parcel after tho customs inspection which Is made ut the international exchange point.

(d) Receiving Procedures International parcels are not opened upon delivery unless damaged. They are weighed; and if the weight is less than that indicated on the package, tho postal clerk will offer to inspect the package in the presence of the recipient. This offer is usually refused for fear some irregularity will be found and the package returned to the sender. Receivingarc the same as those for receiving internal parcels. Reports have indicated, however, that upon receiptackage from abroad, postal workers may query the addressee as to what country the package may be from. There have been cases wherein the addressee named the wrong country and the package was withheld.

c. Small Packets

The exchange of small packets was introduced. This service allows smalldutiable orbefaster than regular packages. Tlie packet must weigh less than Aveeturn address is mandatory, asist of contents. Prohibited aa enclosures are coins, money, postage stamps, valuables payable to the bearer, platinum, gold, silver, or precious stones. Small packets must be marked on the front petit paquet and must bear the green customs label.

ackage Mailing to the USSR

Packages are received In the USSR from many parts of the world,by those with friends and relatives abroad. Persons In tho Soviet Union solicit packages through their internationalwhile the Soviet Government facilitates receipt of same by enabling the sender to remit the customs duty in advance.

The number of packages entering tho Soviet Union from abroad Is not known, butevenue is collected annually by the USSR on duty-prepaid packages alone. Another Indicatton of the size of the duty-prepaid package traffic Is the Initial advance deposithich In tourist required of one Uniled States duty-prepaid package mailing firm to insure collection of duty.

The contents of packages mailed into the USSR are used principally by the recipient to relieve personal consumer shortages orource of additional income. Formerly many persons were able to support themselves on the sale of contents of packages from the West by virtue of the high prices these goods brought on the black market.

t

controls on black marketing became more effective through the operationentral outlet where individuals brought these goods for public sale and the authoritiesommission on all sales.the heavy fines for those caught dealing in the black market0 propaganda campaign versus the need for Western goods, requests for packages from the West have continued. Some of the mostrequests include: clothing, dress und coal fabrics, fashion designs, shoes, leather, needles, table cloths, ladies' gloves and stockings,pens, medicines, etc.

a. Mailing Requirements and Procedures

A package can be mailed to the Soviet Union from any country which bus postal relations with the Soviet Union and hasostalconcerning packages, provided the package and Its contents meet the postal regulations of the two countries.ist of articles which may be mailed to individuals In the USSR. Articles in excess of the quantities specified on this list will be delivered only It recipient pays five tiroes the usual customs duty. Used clothing and used shoes must be accompaniedated certificate attesting tliat the articles have been disinfected.

Persons living in countries having no postal relations and package agreement with the Sovici Union either moil packages through persons living in countries which do, or send packages in by travelers.ackage is mailed directly by the sender, the customs duty is collected from the recipient of the package in the Soviet Union. In many cases the packages are refused and returned lo the sender because the duly is too high for the recipient to pay.

b. Duty-Prepaid Package Mailing Firms

If the sender knows that the addressee in the Soviet Union will find ll difficult to pay the customs dutiesackage sent through his post office, there Is available an alternate method for shippinguty-prepaid basis. Various firms, scattered throughout the Western'world, arc licensed by in tourist to collect the duty on packages from the. sender. Packages mailed through these firms must comply with the sameas packages mailed directly at the post office with the exception of the customs payment provision and oneused clothes are permitted to be mailed through these firms. Usually the package mailing firmselection of three types ofackage prepared by theackage with items selected by the sender from the firms' stock of goods,he customer's own package. Duty Is also high when prepaid. For example, duty on new clothingercent,percent, woolen yardspercent, etc.

These firms make much of the fact that the sender can be certain the package is received In the Soviet Union. This Is accomplished by meansetachable receipt card attached to the package which Is signed by tlie recipient of the package In the Soviet Union and mailed back to the sender. Thisegular postal service coveredee and may also be secured when mailing directly at the post office.

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c. Mailing Proccdures Tor Medicines

All packages mailed into the USSR which contain medicine (letter packages included) must have enclosed In therescription covering the medicine. The prescription must have been issuedhysicianoviet health establishment and bear the stamp and seal of the health establishment. Medicines are subject to import duties and, as any other article, may be mailed via the parcel post service oruty-prepaid package Arm. If duty is not prepaid, the recipient In the Soviet Union5 perceni duty. However, the customs dutyetter package which contains medicine must be prepaidackage firm even though it Is to be mailed at the post office. Foretter package the firm willag which indicates the duty has been paid.

OSTAL HANDLING OF INTERNAL PERIODICAL PUBLICATIONS

In the division of postal matter, as handled In tlie Soviet Union, this classification of mail exists only for Internal mall. It includesmagazines, brochures, and printed lectures, etc. Similarpostal material enters and exits the USSR aa bamferof' orackage.

This class of postal matter is reported to compriseercent by weight andercent by volume of all the Soviet mail and receives preferential treatment both In handling and delivery.

In the USSR tlie newspapers are delivered In the first mail delivery of the day. They may have originated In the same city, or may have been printed locally from matrix shell mats sent by air from the city of publication, or may have been printed elsewhere and mailed to the cily ot delivery. In any event, the post offices and the communications offices distribute the publications of the republic, oblastnd rayon by agreement with the publishing houses. These agreements are made yearly on the basistandard agreement established by the Ministry of Communications.

Publications are subscribed through the post officesraveler was in the Leningrad Post Office on the last day that subscriptions were being accepted to the Leningrad eveningof the significance of theho was appalled at the crowd,ob. trying to get their subscriptions in before the deadline.

It is the responsibility of the post offices and communlcatioasto record subscriptions to newspapers and magazines on cards, maintain these cards filed by publications, and upon receipt of theand magazines sort them In accordance with the subscriptions on tbe cards. The postman Is furnishedist ofthe names and addresses are not recorded on the Items delivered.

Although the distribution of newspapers and magazines is anpostal official* have Indicated It is their most "annoying"Is alleviated somewhat by lhc comparative light

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ewspapers are delivered in the nrst morning mall.

weight of Soviet newspapers and the local printing of many papers which eliminates the intercity transportation of the newspapers.

E. SOVIET STATIONERY

The common denominator of stationery supplies in the USSR is poor quality. Reports have indicated that from time to time paper andare not available for purchase even In fairly large cities. Any good paper which may be seen is certain to have been purchasedarge city.

Color tennlnology is difficult In describing the colors of Soviet paper and envelopes because the dyes used in the paper areew package of "blue" envelopes will have various shades from blue to blue-green, and while paper Isure white but shades off to cream and buff. After exposure to light both the white and blue shadeseven more diversified. For purposes of this study, blue will be used for all shades of blue and blue-green, and white for an shades of off-white, cream, and buff.

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nvelopes

There are several types of envelopes which are in general use In the Soviet Union:lain envelope which may be lined, urillned, or have printed simulated lining;restamped envelope;rinted envelope with spaces Indicated for addressing (this type may also be purchasedrestamped red or red and blue bordered envelope for airmail. The Soviets firstolor bordered envelope for airmail In the summerhislue envelope bordered In red, with spaces for addressing and bore theSoviet insignia of hammer and sicklearland. The new prestamped airmail envelopes, issued at the time of the change of stamps, arc similar and there isew white pictorial one, bordered in blue and red, but minus the Insignia.

Both white and blue envelopes arc widely used in the Soviet Union for all types of envelopes. Plain pink envelopes are used only incities and rural areas. Plain grey envelopes are used, butuch less extent than plain white or blue ones.

The new issue of stampsbviously, necessitated new prestamped envelopes. They come both in white and blue. Some of these prestamped envelopesictorial design on the left front of the envelope. Blue ones have been observed with no printed lines for addressing.

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Envelopesictorial design on the frontate on the back flap. It Is not believed that they lose their validity in any given length of time.

The plain Soviet envelopes with printed linings often have theimprint on the Inside of the flap. Paper manufactured in Riga will have this imprint in latin letters. This paper is sold inRussia.

Soviet postal regulations permit the use of envelopes with transparent windows but not those with open windows.

Soviet envelopes used for personal letters are all very nearly the same size,nches. In official or business mail larger envelopes arc sometimes used, but these are never as longheet of typing paper is wide. Printed material may be mailed in very large envelopes as banderoi' mall.

Paper

The most outstanding characteristic of the writing paper used by the majority of Soviets Is the poor quality of the paper. Envelopes and paper seldom match. Boxed matching paper und envelopes, even though the quality is poor, are used only by high level Individuals, The most commonly used paper is that with printed lines. This comesingle long sheet orhorter sheet folded to form four pages. Graph paper is also widely used for letter writing. Both the lined and the graph paper frequently are sheets which have, in fact, been torn from school note books.

Implements

Typewriters are not often used for other than business or official letters as they are seldom available for private use. Pencils arc not acceptable for letter writing tn the usual social sense, nor will the post officeetter addressed in pencil unless an indelible pencil Is used. Fountain pens are common. Ball-point pens have been inuse in the USSR, especially by students, but due to their poor quality 'they are not ns popular as previously. The old fashioned pen staff fitteden point is still In common use. American madepens are considered highly desirable to own.

nks

Different types of Ink are used for different purposes In the Soviet Union. For letter writingiquid ink Is used or the Ink Isby mixing waterwdered Ink. It is also common practice to make ink by mixing the pulverized lead from one indelible pencilrams of water. This isery high grade of Ink and willtudentear. Only the Ink purchased in the liquid form can be used for fountain pens.

The most prevalent colors of ink used for letter writing are blue and purple, wilh green placing third.

SECBjET

K. SOVIET POSTAGE STAMPS AND STAMP COLLECTORS 1. Postage Stamp*

Stamps may be purchased at post offices, newsstands, stale andtrade organizations, schools, village reading rooms, andpostman encountered on his delivery rounds.sold at premium prices at newsstands, schools, etc. This Isnow stamps arc sold everywhere at the same price.

The installation of stamp vending machines is being encouraged by the Ministry of Communications, however, they have not been easily located by travelers, who usually report that those they find are out of order. Those observed have been in subway stations, communications enterprises, stores, parks and other places of mass public attendance.

Although Soviet stamps are not always engraved, they are quite beautiful. They frequently are produced by multicolor printing, and their beauty is derived from the excellence of color and design.

The' Ministry of Communications Issuesundred newstamps each year. Travelers have reported that at the hotel post offices ihe clerks slick as many of these stamps as possible on international letters. However, some comniemoralive stamps are sold only to stamp collectors and are not used on the mall

The commemoratives are printed lo celebrate every conceivableachievement and to honor Soviet heroes, writers,s well as foreigners. Americans, as Longfellow and Benjamin Franklin, have been so honored, and several issues have commemorated the Scottish poet. Robert Bums. All Soviet space travel is immediatelytho Titov space flight has born honored by two stamps. Other typical subjects which stimulate new stamp issues are: international sports competitions, exhibits and forums, capitals of the SovietSoviet wild life and flowers, ad Infinitum.

Whenever new postage rales are established, new stamps are not necessarily issued to correspond with the new rales as might be expectedountry which is so prolific in stamp issues. Instead, the new rates are made up of combinations of old stamps, and eventually stamps of ihe proper denominations are issued. When the postage rates were changedo conform with the new currency,entirely new stamps were necessary. These were Issued inof,,0 andopek stamps. Otherwise, there has been no appreciable change in the stamps, and the number ofIssued since Ihe first of the year continues to reflect the use of stamps for propaganda purposes.

2. Stamp Collectors

The collection of foreign stamps by Soviet collectors has recently been curtailed by the rigid enforcement of the prohibition against enclosing stamps in International mail, however, extra stamps may be used on

45

*

letters, and stamps are transmitted abroad to collectors by tliis method. For previous attitudes and actual usage on enclosing stumps inletters see. above.

The Soviet press has reported that persons accused of "speculating" in postage stamps have been given prison sentences. These individuals were accused of buying and selling stamps for profit and "of taking advantage of the secrecy of the Soviet postal system."

Letters containing orders or requests for stamps by cataloguemay lend themselves to clandestine transmittal of coded Information. It should be noted that these letters axe not In violation of Soviet postal regulations. The BIS has used international stomp collectors' letters for ageDt communication outside the USSR to the USSR-Cover" exchanges to and from the Soviet Union are not as prevalent as in other countries but there have been exchanges with the Western world. Probably the most widely circulated cover club in the USSR is the Cover Collectors Circuit Club with headquarters in Waterloo. Iowa.

Stamp collectors in the Soviet Union fall Into two categories: the serious collectors with large, valuable collections and tho amateurThe first category is limitedmall group. There arefive collections in Leningrad, and as many in Moscow, which can bo rated as large by western standards. One of the largest is In the Central Museum of Communications in Leningrad which alsoisplay of Russian and Soviet postal history. The gaps which exist in this stamp and cover collection are probably due to the combination of destruction and loss during the Revolution and the lack of public interest In philatelic history for many years alter the Soviets came to power.

The second category, the amateur collectors, is very large. Theof the Soviet Government towards stamp collecting is definitely favorable. Stamps are exchanged through stamp clubs, may bein stamp shops (many book stores have stampnduill solicit foreign stamps from foreigners on the streets. In addition, the larger post offices have philatelic windows and well known 'philatelists often work with young pioneer groups.

Tho majority of amateur collectors rely on Soviet and Satellite stamps as they are the most accessible. Aside from these issues, the most popular lines appear to be German, Italian and Austrian. Tsariststamps are rare. American stamps of recent vintage have been observed in Soviot collections.

Collectors use the term cover lotamped envelope.

46

SECRET /

371

IV. SOVIET MAIL CENSORSHIP

Thr organization and operation of the Soviet mail censorship system is not completely known to us. Various sources have contributedon the subject, but there are still areas of ignorance with respect to certain fundamental aspects of the censorship system.

A. ORGANIZATION

Soviet mail censorshiptate security function and operates under the KGB. administered from tho All-Union Headquarters- Tlie last known component of state security engaged in censorship was the Sixthartment (Spetsotdet) of the MVD4 The present designation has not been determined. There will be subordinate offices located at tbe republic, kray. and oblast levels.

The section of the KOB which is charged with the censorship function handles the intercepted postal items in accordance with the instructions received from the requesting directorate or office. Thus, for instance, they may furnish to the requestingail item, an extract, or the item Itself. In genera) the requesting office is responsible forthe mail If such is required.

Below tlie organizational level mentioned above, the organization of censorship is not known. Specifically, the points wherein theand examination of mail takes place have not been firmlyAs will be shown below, the routing of international moll Indicates the possibility that censorship eitlier is performed at the oblast level, or that at thiselection Is made of Items to be forwardedensorship unit elsewhere.

The information on routing establishes that all International mall enters and exits the Soviet Union via International postal exchange areas which are generally, but with some exceptions, located near the borders of the USSR and service the mall to and from the countries contiguous to their locations. For example. Baku is an international postal exchange area and the Soviet mail to and from Iran is routed through Baku.

- At these areas, packages are turned over to the local customs where they are opened, inspected, and customs duties are determined. Pock-ages entering and exiting the Soviet Union are routed directly from the international postal exchange areas to their destination, or vice versa, as the case may be. On the other hand, all writtenand banderol' are routed to and from the international postal exchange area through the communications enterprise located in the oblast (republic, kray) center of tlie location of the addressee or ad dressor. This routing through the main post office at the oblast center is also applicable to locations within the same oblast as the international

postal exchange area. In addition, all letters mailed in the USSR addressed lo foreign embassies in the USSR, although they carry local postage, are routed with the international mail.

Thus it is established that all packages are examined at customsat the international postal exchange areas, and that all written lorrespondence is routed through the main post office at the oblast center of the Soviei addressee or addresser. Moreover, all main post offices at oblast centers have employees whose function is the Inspection of the mail. Ostensibly this examination Is lo inspect the postage, wrapping, address,ut it may beatch list and certain criteria of suspicion are also checked at this point, and mall thus spotted is diverted to censorship. Several sources who have worked in post offices at the rayon level and below have had no knowledge of any censorship functions being performed in these offices.

B. CENSORSHIP OF INTERNAL MAIL

In general Ihe internal mail of one Soviet to another Soviet Is not subject to censorship. Nevertheless, there Is no question bul thatmail is effectively censored on the basisatch Ust system, augmented by the censorship of mail from select areas and groups, and by the censorship of individual letters which for one reason or another attract the attention of the censor.

erson becomes the subject of active investigation by the local security and militia elements, his mail becomes subject toThe resulting watch list is maintained continuously. According to one Satellite source who is knowledgeable on Soviet censorshiphowever, the watch list is reviewed quarterly and names may be added or deleted. This source reports that, In order to preventfrom becoming overburdened, names will be removed from the watch list If the Investigative Interest no longer requires postal

An individual's Internal mail may be censored because he fallsategory of people whose mail la being censored. Such categories may be composed of persons livingensitive or suspect area, or may be categories of certain types of persons. In regard to the first category. It should be pointed out that when the mailpecific area is being watched, the censorship Is conducted differently and is less dangerous to the individual. In censoring the mailiven area, usually large quantities of letters are opeued and scanned In order to determine the nature of the contents of the letters, and less attention is paid to the names of the individuals writing. Actually, censorship of this nature is for the purpose of collecting public opinion on various subjects. The information thus collected is used as the basis of reports submitted to different organs in the government for their Information.

The second categories mentioned above may be composed of any group whose mall Is deemed worthy of scrutiny, as scientists, military personnel, visiting foreigners and the like. All mail addressed to for-

oign embassies, cither by Soviets or other foreign embassies in the USSR, is censored. There is evidence that all internal mall of visiting foreigners isnited States guide at the Moscow fair mailed, at hisetteroman whom an emigre friend in the United States had asked him to look up.onth passed and no reply came, he called on the woman. She had not received the letter, but some men had called and told her she would beisitor.visiting American felt his letters were being opened. And In order to test this, he mailed to himself several letters which he placed In the envelopes in reverse. When they arrived, all the letters were inserted in the envelopes tn the proper maimer.

Over and above the watch list and the different categories of persons whose mail may be watched, several sources have Indicatedetter may be censored because the letter Itself creates suspicion. The criteria of suspicion of letters is not completely known. Presumably anyof the letter which is not consistent with other Soviet letters will lead to closer scrutiny. Thus, exjuninationetter may be caused by the use of any number of deviations, as for example, the quality or type of envelope, tho method of writing the address or the return address, or even the use in the address of an abbreviation wlilch Is not commonly used by the Soviets. Once the letter has attracted attention to ilself and is opened by the censor, awkwardonsensical or incoherent text, or obvious blunk spaces may cause the letter to be examined for open code or SW. As high quality paper Is seldom available in the Soviet Union, the use of good paper tn acould lead toshort, any marked departure from general Soviet usage in letter writing may create suspicion andetter to be more closely examined than it would be otherwise.

It is not known If mall Is watched by address as well as by name. In their own instructions on preparation of operational letters the Soviets take cc^nlsance of the importance of using an address which will bear inspection. In view of this awareness It may be assumed that addresses receive some consideration by censorship although there is no evidence to indicate that addresses are considered suspect In the sense that an address itself would be placedatch list.

Soviet censorship collects handwriting samples for various purposes; one reported use of these samples is the identification of anonymous letter writers. Il is not known precisely In what manner these samples may be employed In the identification of watch list individuals. It has been reported that in one Satellite country, which has received guidance from the Soviets on censorship, enlarged samples of suspect handwriting are posted cm the walls of the censorship office for comparison purposes.

A perusal of the preceding chapters of this study will show how the Soviets exercise control over the mails in the form of regulationsthe sending and receiving of all types of mail, items permitted as enclosures in letters, and the contents of packages. The inhibiting effect this established control of the mails has on the average Soviet may be observed in his use of the mails, as well as in his observations

9

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SEcioVr

and evaluations uf the capability of censorship. Thus It can be seen that the orert control exercised over the mallsestraining influence on the populace. In addition, the mechanism of controls permitsto exerciseertain mobility Is made possible for the censorship effort by the fact that all mail items are controlled at all times, and within this framework the censor may operate at selected vulnerable points.

C. CENSORSHIP OF THE INTERNATIONAL MAIL

All mall entering and exiting the USSR, including the mall to and from the Satellite countries, is monitored, but it Is not believed that all letters are opened. International packages are opened and examined by customs, and printed matter Is closely scrutinised and Is allowed to enter or Ib rejected on the evaluation of each publication.

It is not known what percentage of international letters are opened, or what percentage of the letters which are opened are examined forr code Soviet defectors reporting on the censorship ofmall have consistentlyonitoring system wherein all of the names and addresses from letters are Indexed but not all letters are opened. The evidence Indicates that this system is probably still inecent Satellite source who had contact with Soviets working in censorship has reported, however, that the Soviets areail of the international mall by means of utrosonic waves; thiswill be more fully discussed later.

Before exploring the details of these reports and the technicalof the ultrasonic device, it should be emphasized that the volume of Soviet International mall has been steadily increasingnd especially sot which lime articles appeared In the Soviet press encouraging tho populace to write to their friends and relatives abroad. The Soviets do not report statistics on international mailto international postal organizations as do other countries.it is well established that the volume of international mall has expanded tremendously over the past few years. And for purposes of considering censorship methods, evaluations must be made within this framework of an expanding mail volume.

Various Soviet sources have contributed to the following asthe methods employed In the USSR to censor the International mall. Cards arc maintained on all persons who write abroad as well as on all persons abroad who write to the USSR Presumably cards are also maintained on persons exchanging printed matter and packages.to one source the cards contain the following information;

Name

Date of birth

Place of birth

Address

50

GLT378

sec^St/J^

eference to location of subject's file. The case file, for example, may be located in Arkhangelsk because the subject may be of direct interest to, or In the operational jurisdiction of, the Arkhangel'sk office.

tatement as to the reason subject is registered in the card index. If other entries are not complete, the card may not be filed without this entry. In case of mail intercepts, this entry wil! reflect that the individual was entered in the index because of his correspondence, or mention of him in other corresiwnd-ence, and will give cither the nature of the information or where It may be located.

When complete information is not obtainable from an intercepted letter, such information as is available is entered on the card andmforrnatlon Is added whenever collected from subsequent letters. When copies or extracts are made from letters, they are forwarded to the Individual's file.

In oneoviet citizen applyingisa to visit the Westsaw his own dossier In the militia headquarters, and in the dossier were actual copies of hi* correspondence with relatives abroad. In anotheretter from tho militia in Chernigov, in answer to an Inquiry from the Berlin Repatriation Committee, stated that for their additional Information the subject of the inquiry was in correspondence with his brother In Paris.

While letters are checked against the card index, no account Is kept of the number or frequency of letters. Lettersew channel arc opened until such time as it may bo established that the correspondence la Innocuous. After the lettersew channel have been Inspected sufficiently to indicate that the correspondence is an innocent andone. the letters are no longer opened but are checked to ascertain If the names of the Individuals are carded.

In addition to this general index of jnternattonalatch Urti

I As was slated IB ifte discussion of internal

snip, me watch list Is reported to be reviewed quarterly and at that time, names may be added or deleted according to the investigative Interest.

The following are categories or persons whose names will bealch list through suspicion:

ersons on whom there is information obtained from security service operations to the effect that the personecurity threat of some sort.

SECRET J"

A(

c

Persons who arc In polentlally subversive or politically dangerous categories, such as former prison camp inmates, persons with known grievances against the regime, etc.

All Soviet officials who have served abroad, and thereby have had the opportunity ol coming under the Influence or control of foreign

Persons who have been abroad in non-official capacities (tourists, artists, military to Eastern Europe) who came to the attention of the security sen-Ice while abroad, for one reason or another. Examples mightoviet tourist reported by the KGB shepherd to have made dubious contacts withoviet soldier who had an affairocal girl while stationed in Hungary, and this fact having' become known to his unit in Hungary; the lady discus-thrower who lifted the hats in London.

It has been reported that namesatch list are forwarded to the new location, to the event an Individual on the watch list moves his place of residence. Apparently if the individuals writing abroad are nof on the watchertain mobility may be helpful in getting mail through. An American citizen, since visiting his relatives in their native village in the USSR, has not received any letters from his relatives living in the village, but has received several lettersousin who left to attend schoolifferent area.

In addition, there may be various categories of persons whose mail is carefully scrutinised, notatch by name, but because their mail fallsuspicious category. An example, according to the Satellite source mentioned above, will be stamp collectors. In this case, no doubt, the suspicion Is based on tlie KGB's own use of stamp collectors' letters as cover letters for agent communications.

Thus the letters which will be opened by the censor may consistsof new channels, suspect channels, suspect categories, orletter which may arouse suspicion. An international letterclosely inspected because the letter itself creates suspicion.letters originating to the Soviet Union will presumably besuspect if they have characteristics not indigenous to the locationthey are mailed. In addition, the dcsllnation or origin ofmay have an effect on the extent of the scrutiny to whichis.

The techrncal evaluation of this report states that opening letters by the use of ultrasonic wavesrobable achievement by the Soviets

SEOrtET

and assumingevice exists, it is likely that it is reserved for special occasions or that it exists only in tho prototype stage. The evaluation further states,achine would increase the openingsewime toackime then individual handling once again takes over. Even if the sack were selective (watch listed) individual handling would be required aforehand. An ultrasonic device certainly wouldn't or couldn't rcseal, so each letter then would have once again to be Individually processed If there isevice, it Is likely not usedreat extent when one visualizes the mess that would resultass (sack full) of envelopes opened Indtscrimlnatcly. in that thecannot be selective with respect to the flap or seal It weakens or opens. All flaps then would weaken or open and if it were possible to keep the contents identified with the envelope, any advantage gained in quick opening would be lost in extra time and work lost int Is especially pertinent that the use of ultrasonic waves to open or loosen the flap of an envelope probably does not change the opening of the" mailand processachine operation with the implied gain In speed. If it ls assumed that the Soviets have developed this device, it does not automatically follow that by speeding one phase of the censorship process the Increase in volume of letters which can be opened, censored, resealed. and returned to the flow of mall is great enough to insure opening all of the mail. Any improvement in censor-sliip methods will, of course, Increase the number of letters which it is possible to open. hould be assumed that the chances of an individual letter being opened are Increased.

ThU is not to say that the probable use of ultrasonic waves to open letters, or any other advanced technical equipment for that matter, does nothreat Although the preponderance of other available evidence Indicates that international letters are not all opened, and that the letters which are currently being opened are steamed, it cannot be assumed that thisermanent situation. Nor can It be claimed, at this time, that actual mall experiences can always be fittedattern reflecting any one theoretical modus operandi for Soviet censorship.

Consider briefly the Soviet practice of reseating an envelope: beginningoviet international letters which were opened byboth those entering and exiting, were all covertly opened.pened and resealedanner not detectable by observation. Letters coming out of the USSR to the West have at all tunes been covertly opened. But now, and approximately for the past three years, it Is not unusual .for letters received In the Soviet Union, even by foreigners, to show obvious opening. Sometimes, especially with letters to Americans, the letters will be delivered with an excuse explaining the obvious In other cases, as for example, French. Belgian, and Japanese visitors will receive letters wherein no attempts are made to disguise the fact that their letters have been opened This suggests an effort on the part of censorship to cover the larger mail volume by eliminating aprocessoint which will do the least harm On the other hand, It could alsoossible try out of the ultrasonic device on

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mall which is to be received in the Soviet Union. Neither explanaton however, appears to Justify permitting foreigners in the Soviet Union to receive letters which show obvious opening.

Several instances of returned mail received In the United States from the USSR, although covertly opened, also could lend themselves toInterpreUitiuns. In one instance, two letters which were written to an American traveling In the Soviet Union, were returned undelivered Upon inspection it was found that the letters were in the wrongthe letter written first was in the envelope of the second letter and vice versa. In another instance, an American's letteroviet was returned undelivered and, in the typed text, two corrections In ink hod been made of the writer's Russian.

There is no further Information on the ktentiflcation of letters by handwriting than that given in the section on censorship of the internal mail. Presumably samples will be collected and used for possiblefrom known cover letters and from Individuals believed to have Intelligence connections.

Additional Indicators which reportedly will alert the censor are:

Type of paper. If the letters purports to be of Soviet origin possibly no one thing will alert (he censor quicker than good paper. Unlined paper is more suspect than lined.

Blank spaces and unusual margins. Blank spaces are ignored only when the paper Is of cheap quality.

Lined envelopes.

Misspelled names of people or places.

Incorrect abbreviations, especially In the addressing.

Incorrect form of address or title.

Unusual placement of stamps which may indicate code.

Letters with samples, as textiles, leather, etc.

Rambling text which gives the Impression of attempting to fill up space.

Text which may appear to be coded.

Postcards. The Soviets suspect messages which mav be hidden on the picture

As la the case with the internal mails, the rigid controls exercised bv the Soviet postal system on the mailing and receiving procedures, and the articles which are permitted as enclosures, are of considerable aid to the censorship effort. It Ik believed that there hasartial relaxation of certain related controls of the mails. Specifically DO lonK"'ro fill out cju. stKjnr.aires concerning rela

ne*with these relatives.

as ll is known that interrogations continue In certain cases regarding foreign correspondence, it is believed that the apparent relaxation of these related controls are undertaken more In an effort to bring the overt controlsonsistent picture rather than there being any genuine relaxation. Foran in Lithuania wrote his uncle in the

#

United Slates and discussed tlie rate of pay, working conditions, andconditions prevailing on the kolkhoz where he lives. He was called in by the authorities shortly afterwards, and threatened with serious consequences if he ever wrote such information abroadew years before this man would have been reporting the correspondence via the forms mentioned above, andew years ago his reprimand probably would haverison term. Nevertheless, the authorities knew that he was writing abroad, and knew ihe contents of his letters.

D. MAIL CENSORSHIP OK PRINTED MATTER

The printed matter, including books, mailed into the USSR is ex-amlned and permitted to enter or disallowed in accordance with the Soviet postal regulations which do not permit entry of printed matter Into the USSR If the textuch as would bring the USSR Into political or economic danger,f an obscene or immoral nature. As stated these conditions are broad indeed, and as Interpreted bytheir application is deemed appropriate to any material whichonsidered undesirable.

The organization and locations of the censors who review the printed matter which pusses through the Soviet inuils are not known. Two sources, In reporting on this activity, have mentioned calling on the censor in Moscow. Specifically. It Is not known If mailed printed matter is reviewed by customs at the International postal area, or by customs located elsewhere, or by other official components, located at convenient points and operating in conjunction with post offices.

In either event, the postal authorities freely admit that all printed matter Is screened. In oneource and an officlul connected with the post office engagediscussionomparison between the Soviet system of screening printed material and the United States policy at that time of forbidding the entry into the ms. of printed matter containing subversive propaganda. This former policy of the United States has been denounced In various articles in the Soviet press. The opinion of the postal official, und as expressed In the articles, was that If such action can be taken against their publications, the USSR would be remiss not to do likewise. It will be interesting to note any changes which may be brought aboul In the Soviet practiceesult of the change in the American policy.

All mall which is discernible as printed matter is reviewed on anbasis, and the censor decides if each piece willelivered to thelacedibrary where Its availability is restricted,ithheld. Tbe censor may call in the addressee and ask him for an explanation ol why he shouldertain piece of literature.

Although grneral lines of demarcation may be drawn in what will be delivered and what will be withheld, the Individual Judgment exercised on each piece of literature makes It impossible to foresee the exact fate of any publication. Material which may be interpreted as politically or economically undesirable Includes such articles as Bibles and all reli-

t

glous literature, all publications In Hebrew, materia] expressing any anti-Soviet ideology, magazines whichigh living standard abroad, and books concerned with Western historical or philosophical discussions.

Despite the all-embracing characteristics of the above categories. In the past few years there hasreat increase in the literature which Is being delivered to the addres-see Materials acknowledged as received have included Englishroad range of English text novels, magazines concerned with sports, needlework and fashions. Printed matter, providing it is Innocuous,etter chance ol being delivered to the addressee if there is an obvious connection between the context ot the publication and the recipient's profession or interests. Forcientist will probablyublication devoted to his Acid, or anheatrical magazine.

Delivery to the addressee isertain matter, however, as there _is no way to predict the individual censor's judgment. I

Printed matter which is permitted to be mailed out of the Soviet Union Is also examined; certain materials containing information the Soviets wish to restrict are withheld. One traveleropy of theof the Academy of Sciences, USSR, which he mailed to himself at his home address togethermall guide book of Moscow. When he received the package, it contained only the guide book. Books published prior8 are not permitted to be mailed out of the USSR without official permission to do so. The majority of travelers to the USSR do mail books and other publications home with little, if any, difficulty and Soviets mail certain books to friends in exchange for other literature.

50

APPENDIX A

ARTICLES PROHIBITED AND CONDITIONALLY ACCEPTED FOR INTERNAL MAILS

Is forbidden to send explosive and highly Inflammablecartridges, benzine, kerosene, alcohol, matches,ungent acids and other acrid substances in all postal matter. In

case of violation of this regulation the entire contents of such postal matter are confiscated.

is forbidden to send money In circulation In the USSR andcurrency In letters. Including Insured letters, third class"packages. The right to send paper money In circulation InIn Insured letters is granted only to organs of the MinistryUSSR, and the Ministry of Communications, USSR Thesend foreign currency In Insured letters la granted only to organsMinistry of Finance. USSR

As an exception, lt is permissible to send defective paper money In insured letters addressed to Gosbank institutions and foreign currency in insured letters addressed to organs of the Ministry of Finance, USSR

If paper money Is discovered in postal matter it will be delivered to the recipientailing charge at twice the postal money order rate.

It is forbidden to send written messages, except inventory lists of enclosed articles. In third class matter. Insured letters, and packages. Applications can be put in insured letters with documents sent toinstitutions and other establishments.

It is forbidden to insert any kind of enclosure bound in sealed wrapping into third class matter and open Insured letters. Objects In ractory wrappings, which may be sent as Insured third class matter without difficulty, arc excepted.

The Russian word Weror has been translated "third eta"

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APPENDIX b

ARTICLES PROHIBITED AND CONDITIONALLY ACCEPTED FOR MAILING AS INTERNATIONAL POSTAL MATTER

t Is forbidden to send In the International malls:

hashish and pipes (or other instruments lorand also morphine, cocaine and other narcoticssentedical or scientific purpose to countriesshipment under these conditions).

inflammable or dangerous items, firearms, partsequipment, and also all kinds of blank weapons.

c Items which by their very nature of packaging mightanger to postal workers, or soil or spoil correspondence.

d. Documents, printed matter, stereotype blocks, snapshots,drafts, drawings, negatives, movie film and similar items, theof which abroad or receipt from abroad might bring the USSR Into political or economic danger.

vitriol,

publications containing any marks as mightconventional language, and also printed publications whose textchanged after printing.

whose Import or handling ls forbidden in the country

of an obscene or unmoral nature.

L Live animals, excluding: bees, leeches, silkworms, parasites and destroyers of dangerous insects which are acquired for research on such Insects and exchanged between officially recognised institutions.

J. Private persons are forbidden to send cancelled and uncancelled postage stamps, philatelic collections, and paper money not In

Items listed in paragraphs a. b, c,re subject to confiscation if mistakenly accepted for mailing.

Postal matter containing objects listed inre subject to return to the sender.

Postal matter containing objects listed Inre subject to destruction.

Postal articles received from abroad containing live animalsthe mails should be delivered to the addressee;oticeconcerning this infringement Is sent to the enterprisetheL"

t

Live animals mistakenly accepted In the mails for shipment ubruad are sent back to their place of origin for return to the sender.

It Is forbidden to send abroad from tlie USSR, gold, platinum and metals of the platinum group in unprocessed form (ore, slag and

It Is forbidden to send the following postal matter abroad without permission of the Ministry of Foreign Trade. USSR, or the Ministry of Culture, USSR:

kinds of furs and products from furs.

soft and pressed (black).

and its derivatives.

and art objects, books and music published

It is not permitted to enclose in letters or third class matter objects subject to customs duties (excluding urgent medicalnd also sample goods in large quantity, with the purpose of avoiding customs duties.

It is forbidden lo send written messages In third class matter,letters, boxes with declared value, and parcels, except invoices and inventories of contents.

By order of the Ministry of Finance, USSR, It Is permitted to send abroad gold, silver, platinum, and metals of the platinum group as ingots, scrap, or manufactured items, and also precious stones, gems and articles made from them, foreign currency (foreign banknotes, treasury note* andromissory notes made out In foreign currency, foreign stocks (shares, bonds with coupons and soancelled bank notes of the USSR, property documents and certificates concerning property dlslrl-

bution.

t Is permitted to send abroad checks payable lo the person named or order (but not those payable to bearer) checks on foreign currency, issued by the Slate Bank, USSR, or by the Bank for Foreign Trade, USSR, on Its foreign correspondents, on condition of the absence of falseures on these checks.

C.

APPENDIX C

LIST OF ARTICLES ALLOWED TO ENTERERMIT WHEN INTENDED FOR PERSONAL USE

ITEM NO. NAME Of COM MODITY

QUANTITY AUMITTH)

spices

oz. of each kind.

pc. cacao, chicory

z. of each.

ounces.

tobacco, tobacco prod-

x.

and dishes .

pounds.

all kinds

prescribed by Soviet physi-

and cosmetics

oz. or one set.

all kinds

pounds.

of gold, silver or plati-

pounds.

tools

of each kind.

goods, mcluding elec-

appliances

goods

articleet of each kind.

equipment and

.

instruments, prosthe-

surgical corsets, hearing

etc

of each kind, as prescribed

Soviet physicians or hos-

(coats, suits, shawls) 3

linen, bed linens and table

.

sets of each kind.

and blouses

of each kind.

bunds

sets of each kind.

.

all kinds

articles.

all kinds

pairs.

Socks, stockings

pairs.

doves

pairs.

Briefcases and hand-

of each kind.

AU other articles ol

..

articlesets of each

games and Christlmas

decorations .

supplies

articleet of each kind.

7 IH

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

(

29

Musical instruments (wind

t different titles.

1 article.

arc admitted in gift parcels without quantity limitation, except perishable foods, foods and drinks in glass containers, and hermetically sealed preserves, which arc prohibited.

Small articles of slight value for personal use are admitted ineven if not shown on the list, except pieces of cloth, threadwhich are1

390

secret

GLOSSARY OF SOVIET POSTAL TERMS AND CATEGORIES

AVIA Banderol', BanderoU Besplatno

D (Cyrillic letter "JI")

Do vostrebovaniye EXP RES (FT.)

Fel'dyegerskaya Svyaz' (Fel'dsvyaz')

1MPRIMESolkhoz

MEZHDUNARODNOYE

Nalozhennym vlatezhom PAR AVION (FT) Pasport

Petit paquet (FT.)

Pismo POChTA

Posylka BEST COPY AVAILABLE

Pages

"Airmail, Air." (mark appearing n airmail)

Similar to third class,

"Free of charge." (One ol several ords including matrosskoye,or soldatskoye which appears on mail sent free by Soviet

Forwarding indicated by the appear- nce of this letter and the newstamped on front of envelope.

"General

Special delivery cachet attached as a ed sticker.

Courier system for distribution of lassified government mail.

"Printed matter." (International ail banderol' must indicate the type of contents being mailed.)

Collective

All Soviet Interna- ional mail carries this cachet.)

International airmail

"Passport" for Internal Soviet,

so

13

Mark appearing on small packets sent through regular international mall channels

"Letter."

36

Soviet maUboxes are marked this way)

"Parcel."

391

TT

pettotdet

Tekhnikum

Ts (Cyrillic letterCyrillic letter

Vestnik Svyaxi Voyennaua Titnzura

(VTS) Yashchtk

Z (Cyrillic)

Zagotzemo

Marking which appears on all Inter- ational registered mail.

"Special Department." (Specifically. Sixth Special Department, MVD, last confirmed Soviet securityengaged In

Technical

Insured mail marked by the letter Ts" and the insurance number.

Mail returned to sender is marked ith the letter "V" and the return address.

Communication

Military Censorship

A box (postal

Registration of internal mail is indi- ated by the appearance ol the"Z" and tho registration ZAKAZNOYE also usuallyon registered mail

All-Union Bureau for

and Storage of Grain.

ate

U

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SEC (IU

394

BEST COP* AVAILABLE

Original document.

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