711.00111 Armament Control/Military Secrets/1953
The Secretary of State to Gibbs and Cox, Inc., New York, N. Y.
Sirs: I refer to my letter of July 6, 1939,97 and previous correspondence, in regard to the plans for destroyers and flotilla leaders which you have prepared with a view to the construction of vessels in the United States in accordance with these plans for the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and have to inform you that I am in receipt of a letter of July 14 from the Acting Secretary of the Navy concerning this matter.98 The Acting Secretary of the Navy states that, as a guide to future decisions and action on questions which may arise in connection with this proposed transaction, he wishes to go on record to the effect that, if the Government of the United States is to permit the acquiring by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics of destroyers and flotilla leaders in this country, then the ships so constructed should be of modern and efficient type and their installations should embody designs that have been actually demonstrated in service to be rugged and satisfactory; furthermore, that if it is to the interest of the United States Government to permit such ships to be constructed for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in this country, then, in fairness to the interests of the Union of [Page 892] Soviet Socialist Republics, the ships built for that Government should be of a type certain to prove satisfactory in service without the long periods of adjustment usual when radically new designs are brought out. In support of this position, he recommends that no installation or design not thoroughly service-tested be offered by the designers to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. He recommends further specifically that the well-proven Mohan design, modified as per previous correspondence, and further modified in detail as may be necessary, be the basis of machinery designs prepared by the designers for any destroyers or flotilla leaders constructed for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in this country.
Very truly yours,
Chief, Division of Controls