711.00111 Armament Control/Military Secrets/2118
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Controls (Green)
There was received today a letter from Gibbs & Cox,6 naval architects, in regard to the proposed construction of destroyers in this [Page 896] country for the Government of the U. S. S. R. and enclosing further plans and specifications for transmission to the Navy Department in order that it might be ascertained whether any military secrets were involved therein. In this letter Gibbs & Cox refer to recent developments in Europe and ask whether in view of the change in the international situation there was any change in the policy of this Government in respect to the construction of naval vessels for the U. S. S. R.
Upon receipt of this letter, I called the Acting Secretary of the Navy by telephone. I told him the contents of the letter, which would be transmitted to him in due course, and specifically of the paragraph requesting to know of any possible change of policy. I said that I had not as yet been able to consult my superiors in regard to the answer which should be made to this question but that it seemed to me that the proper answer at this time would be “The Department has nothing to add at this time to the information which you have already received in respect to the policy of this Government in regard to the construction of vessels of war in this country for the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.” I pointed out that as a period of at least two and one-half years must necessarily elapse before these destroyers would be ready for delivery and as the Navy Department could at any time before delivery commandeer the destroyers if the policy of this Government should so require, it would seem to me to be unnecessary to undertake to pass upon the question of policy at this time. I said that after having consulted my superiors I would draft a reply to Gibbs & Cox and that a copy of the Department’s letter would, of course, be transmitted to him.
Mr. Edison said that as far as the Navy was concerned he agreed with me that it was probably unnecessary to make any change at this time in the policy which has already been communicated to Gibbs & Cox in respect to the construction of these destroyers.
I should appreciate receiving instructions in regard to this matter in order that I may draft an appropriate letter to Gibbs & Cox.7