800.51W89 U.S.S.R./25: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:50 p.m.]
27. I introduced Captain Nimmer and Lieutenant White to Voroshilov this morning. He asked me to remain after they left and we talked for an hour and a half.
Voroshilov brought up the question of obtaining the 200,000 tons of used steel rails in regard to which Stalin spoke to me in December as a matter of extreme urgency.9 I explained to him in detail the impossibility of any credits being granted until the Soviet Government had settled its debts to the Government of the United States. He asked me if I would do everything I could to expedite such a settlement and I told him that I certainly would provided he would do everything he could to push Litvinov to an immediate agreement. He promised to do so.
Voroshilov said that he would be much interested in obtaining technical advice and certain naval equipment in the United States, parts for cruiser construction, et cetera. I told him that I was sure that he would find cordial cooperation in the United States and he promised to let me know his desires in detail in the near future.