861.24/708: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:52 a.m.]
1890.
“November 4, 1941, Moscow, The Kremlin.28
Although I have not yet received the text of your message, Mr. Steinhardt, the Ambassador of the United States of America, on November 2, 1941 transmitted to me through Mr. Vyshinski an aide mémoire stating the contents of your message to me.
In this connection, permit me first of all to express complete agreement with your evaluation of the work of the Conference in the shortest time. The Soviet Government expresses its deep gratitude for your statement that the decisions of the Conference will be carried out to the maximum extent.
The Soviet Government accepts with sincere gratitude your decision, Mr. President, to grant to the Soviet Union a non-interest bearing loan to the extent of $1,000,000,000 with which to pay for supplies of armaments and raw materials for the Soviet Union, as exceptionally substantial assistance to the Soviet Union in its great and difficult struggle against bloodthirsty Hitlerism, our common foe.
[Page 856]On behalf of the Government of the U.S.S.R., I express complete agreement with the conditions which you set forth for the granting of this loan to the Soviet Union, payments on which shall commence 5 years after the termination of the war and be made during the 10 years after the expiration of this 5-year period.
The Government of the U. S. S. R. is ready to do everything necessary in order to supply the United States of America with the goods and raw materials which are at its disposal and which the United States may need.
With respect to your proposal, Mr. President, that should circumstances require personal direct contact be immediately established between us, I share your desire with satisfaction and for my part am ready to do everything possible to make this possible.
With sincere respect,
I. Stalin.”
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This reply by Stalin to President Roosevelt’s letter dated October 30, 1941, was handed to Ambassador Steinhardt soon after 1 a.m., November 6, 1941, by Assistant People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs Vyshinsky in Kuibyshev. (861.24/707) President Roosevelt received the Soviet Chargé d’Affaires on November 7, who delivered a Russian text of the message. (861.24/708) A paraphrased text of Stalin’s reply was printed in Department of State Bulletin, November 8, 1941, p. 366.
Ambassador Steinhardt further reported in telegram No. 1889, November 6, 1941, that Vyshinsky told him at 3 a.m., that Stalin planned to incorporate the substance of the President’s letter in his public address in connection with the celebration of the 24th anniversary of the October 1917 revolution, and requested immediate consent for this use. (861.24/707) This consent was telegraphed as soon as possible from the Department of State. (740.0011 European War 1939/16449a.) For a report of the speech made by Stalin, see telegram No. 1900, November 8, from the Ambassador in the Soviet Union, p. 654.
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