Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1941, General, The Soviet Union, Volume I

861.48/2519a: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt)

Washington, November 6, 1941—10 p.m.

1194. Please deliver the following message to Mr. Stalin from the President.²⁹

“I am happy to inform you that medical supplies in the list prepared by Medical Supplies Committee of the Three Power Conference will be provided as rapidly as these supplies can be purchased and shipped, less such portion thereof as the British may provide. Conditions of American supply and production make impossible immediate purchase large amounts certain items requested but 25 percent of the total list can be provided within 30 to 60 days and the balance in installments during the next 8 months.

“The American Red Cross is prepared to provide approximately one-third of the total list at an approximate cost of $5,000,000 as a gift of the American people. Acting on my instructions, the American Red Cross will procure these supplies with funds placed at my disposal by the Congress and also funds contributed by the American people for relief in the Soviet Union. As the American Red Cross must account to the Congress and to its contributors for the use of these funds and supplies, Wardwell,³⁰ Chairman their Delegation, outlined in a letter to Kolesnikov of the Soviet Alliance³¹ the kind of cooperative arrangement between the Red Cross Societies of our respective countries which is desired. The Red Cross is also transmitting a message to Kolesnikov today pointing out the importance of reasonable observation by the American Red Cross representative of the distribution made of its supplies subject, of course, to all appropriate military considerations. I would deeply appreciate it if your Government can assure me that the desired arrangements are acceptable. I may point out that the procedures proposed by the American Red Cross are the same which are followed with regard to their assistance in Great Britain and other countries.

“On the basis indicated, the American Red Cross is prepared to consider further substantial assistance in the Soviet Union as needs develop and requests are made.”

Hull

29. Ambassador Steinhardt reported in telegram No. 1911, November 12, 1941, that receipt of this message was greatly delayed. It had been possible to leave this message with Vyshinsky for delivery to Stalin apparently only on the previous evening.
30. Allen Wardwell, member of the law firm of Davis, Polk, Wardwell, Gardiner and Reed, New York, N. Y.
31. Sergey A. Kolesnikov, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Society of the Red Cross and Red Crescent of the Soviet Union, which is doubtless the organization intended.