711.94114A/19: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Standley) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 22—7:31 a.m.]
912. Department’s 531, July 7, 6 p.m. In reply to an urgent communication to Molotov dated July 9 outlining the considerations set forth in the Department’s telegram I have received a note dated July 20 stating in effect that since the point in the Soviet Union from which the medical supplies in question will be sent to Japan is not yet known the Soviet Government considers the creation of a stockpile as premature; that as soon as the question regarding the routing of the supplies is decided upon the Soviet Government “if it should prove necessary” will permit the accumulation of essential medical supplies at a suitable point in the Soviet Union prior to their shipment to Japan.
Based on conversation reported in my 905 of July 21 I interpret the phrase “if it should prove necessary” to mean that the Soviet authorities prefer shipments from the U.S. directly to Japan on Soviet vessels thus avoiding the necessity of accumulating supplies in the Soviet Union, that they will not permit Japanese ships or planes to enter the Soviet Union to pick up these supplies and that they are reluctant to arrange for shipments from the Soviet Union to Japan on Soviet carriers.