811.24/406a: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Consul at Vladivostok (Caldwell)
For Heid:12 The Secretary of War has now signed three contracts with Russian Cooperatives for purchase on credit basis of surplus material in hands of War Department, shoes, clothing, etc., namely Siberian Creameries, Union of Siberian Cooperative Unions and All-Russian Central Union of Consumers. He is willing to sign additional contracts with other societies. Contracts all identical and provide that disposal and delivery of materials in Siberia shall be supervised by a representative of the Secretary of War appointed by him for that purpose, expenses to be borne by contractors not to exceed $25,000 on each contract. The Secretary of War at suggestion of this Department desires to know if you will accept position as his representative and if so what assistance you will require.
For your information, Secretary of War has announced willingness to sell to cooperatives on credit basis $25,000,000 worth of materials. Three contracts thus far signed are each for $5,000,000. Action of the Secretary of War is prompted not by business considerations but on desire to carry out this Government’s purpose to assist Russian people. In each case, contracts provide that shipments shall go forward only to those parts of European Russia and Siberia which this Government shall approve.
- August Heid, representative at Vladivostok of the War Trade Board.↩