Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume V

861.24/9–649

United States Side Minutes of Meeting of Combined Working Group on Naval Craft¹

confidential

[Washington,] September 6, 1949.

Present

U.S.	USSR
Mr. R. G. Hooker, Jr.	Adm. N. A. Piterski, Sov. Navy
Capt. Wm. O. Floyd, USN	Capt. 2nd Cl. M. I. Vanyukin, Sov. Navy
Lt. Comdr. J. C. Davis, USN
Mr. C. C. Matlock	Mr. B. K. Sokolov, 1st Sec. Sov. Emb. (Interpreter)
Mr. M. H. Cardozo
Mr. J. M. McSweeney
Mr. G. E. Truesdell

Admiral Piterski opened the meeting immediately by stating that the United States proposal had been considered by his government and that the Soviet Government insists upon the return of the frigates to Hakodate, a northern port in Japan. Mr. Hooker asked if this meant that there had been no change in the previous position of his government. The Admiral replied in the affirmative.

Mr. Hooker stated that the United States side is greatly disappointed in the position taken by the Soviet Government in not meeting its clear and unequivocal obligations to return the vessels in accordance with Article V of the Master Lend-Lease Agreement to United States ports. Pie said that at a previous meeting the United States side had made a proposal to accept in part the proposal of the Soviet Government and that now the United States was in the position of leaving the vessels in Soviet custody or of making further concessions in order to clear up the matter which has been subjected to long delays over a period of more than three years. He said that in view of the Soviet position the United States has no alternative but to offer to accept the icebreakers in western Germany and the frigates at a port in Japan. He stated that the United States would designate the ports both in western Germany and Japan within a day or two but was not prepared to do so today.²

Admiral Piterski replied that he was very pleased to hear of the decision of the United States Government and would be prepared at the next meeting to give a timetable of delivery for each vessel. Mr. Hooker stated that the United States side was pleased to hear that such a timetable would be available and hoped that the return might now be accomplished within a very brief period.

Admiral Piterski noted that the Soviet side had suggested certain amendments to the draft agreement at the last meeting and asked if a new agreement had been prepared. Mr. Hooker stated that the United States would have a few additional changes but was not prepared to present them at this meeting. He said that the United States side would have a draft within a few days and that the changes offered would not be of substance. Admiral Piterski stated that it was desirable that the text be made available at the next meeting in order that translation into Russian might be made. Mr. Hooker stated that he expected to have the document shortly. Admiral Piterski said that everything was clear and in reference to Mr. Hooker’s question stated that he had nothing further to add to the discussion. The meeting adjourned with agreement that the United States side would get in touch with the Soviet Embassy in the very near future.

1. This meeting was held in the Department of State, beginning at 4 p. m. In a preliminary meeting at 3:30 p. m. of the United States Subcommittee on Naval Ships, Captain Floyd presented to the group a copy of the Navy Department’s letter of September 6 with its agreement to accept delivery, if unavoidable, of the icebreakers in a West German port and of the frigates in a southern Japanese port to be specified. The port of Hakodate, as proposed by the Soviet Union, was in northern Japan. Then there was “some discussion concerning the injection into the negotiations of the other 186 vessels return of which had been demanded in our note of October 7, 1948. It was agreed that the question of these vessels should be brought up only after complete agreement had been reached with respect to the icebreakers and frigates. If the Soviets should bring up this matter it was agreed that we would first request the information as to the status of each vessel remaining in Soviet custody which the Soviets had agreed to furnish in their note of December 9, 1948.”
2. During a conversation held at the Embassy of the Soviet Union on September 7, Admiral Pitersky was informed “of the desirability from the U.S. standpoint of the port of Yokosuka rather than Hakodate” for the return of the frigates, and that he should obtain the reaction of his government promptly, by September 12 or sooner, if possible, to this choice.