711.00111 Armament Control/Military Secrets/1902
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador of the Soviet Union (Umansky)90
The Secretary of State presents his compliments to His Excellency the Ambassador of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and has the honor to refer to the memorandum which the Ambassador left with the Secretary on the occasion of his call at the Department on June 17, 1939, concerning vessels of war which the Soviet Government proposes to have constructed in the United States.
Foreign governments are at liberty to enter into contracts with private shipbuilders in the United States for the construction of any vessels of war of any types which they may desire to obtain, provided only that these vessels do not exceed the qualitative limitations fixed by treaties to which the United States is a party and that they do not incorporate in their design, their armament, or their equipment items which are listed as military secrets of interest to the national defense. This Government, in connection with the construction of vessels of war in this country for foreign governments, has two functions: first, to see to it that no violation of the treaties referred to or of the statutes [Page 886] safeguarding military secrets is permitted; and, second, that the provisions of the Neutrality Act of May 1, 1937,91 relating to the issuance of arms export licenses—provisions with which the Ambassador is undoubtedly familiar—are complied with. Thus, it is entirely unnecessary for any foreign government to obtain authorization from this Government to have vessels of war constructed in this country for its navy.
The Department has recently received communications from Gibbs and Cox, Inc., naval architects, transmitting plans and specifications for torpedo boat destroyers and flotilla leaders92 which the architects stated had been prepared with a view to the construction of such vessels in this country for the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. These plans and specifications were submitted by the architects in order that the Department might be in a position to ascertain from the appropriate authorities of this Government whether or not vessels of war constructed in accordance with these plans and specifications would incorporate military secrets of interest to the national defense. On June 19, Gibbs and Cox, Inc., were informed93 that the Navy Department had no objection, on the grounds of military secrecy in its relation to the national defense, to the release of the most recent plans and specifications submitted or to the release of the designs for a torpedo boat destroyer (1800 tons) and a destroyer flotilla leader (2400 tons) based on those plans and specifications, provided that two types of ammunition specifically mentioned were not included and that suitable arrangements could be made in respect to the fire control apparatus. Mr. Hull understands that Mr. William Francis Gibbs, of Gibbs and Cox, Inc., proposes to discuss the plans, specifications, and designs in question with Captain Frolov and other officers of the Soviet naval mission now in this country. He understands further that the decision of the Navy Department will enable Gibbs and Cox, Inc., to furnish designs for torpedo boat destroyers (1800 tons) and destroyer flotilla leaders (2400 tons) of modern type which would almost undoubtedly be considered entirely satisfactory by the naval authorities of any government desiring to construct destroyers and flotilla leaders for its navy. It is understood that Gibbs and Cox, Inc., proposes to submit, for the consideration of the appropriate authorities of this Government, in the very near future any modifications of details of the designs referred to which the Soviet naval mission may suggest in consultation with the architects.