711.00111 Armament Control/Military Secrets/455

The Acting Secretary of State to the Carp Export and Import Corporation, New York, N. Y.

Sirs: I refer to my letter of December 5, 1936, and previous correspondence,12 in regard to your desire to obtain non-confidential designs, plans, working drawings and specifications of such vessels as the U.S.S. Lexington, Colorado and Mississippi, and in regard to your proposal to purchase in this country for exportation to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics arms and equipment for use in the construction and arming of such naval vessels.

I am now in receipt of a letter from the Secretary of the Navy,13 in which he states that the preparation of the designs, plans, working drawings and specifications which you desire would involve an amount of work on the part of his Department which he has not adequate personnel to undertake at this time.

There are no treaties or statutes, except the provisions of the Espionage Act of June 15, 1917,14 in regard to the revelation of information relating to the National Defense, which would constrain private American naval architects from preparing designs, plans, working drawings and specifications for vessels to be exported to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or American companies from manufacturing and selling for export to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics equipment for naval vessels.

Very truly yours,

For the Acting Secretary of State:
Joseph C. Green

Chief, Office of Arms and Munitions Control
  1. None printed.
  2. Not printed.
  3. 40 Stat. 217.