Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1942, Europe, Volume III

Moscow Embassy Files: Lot F–96

Memorandum by the Second Secretary of Embassy in the Soviet Union (Thompson) to the Chargé in the Soviet Union (Henderson), at Kuibyshev

Moscow, November 21, 1942.

Mr. Henderson: When General Bradley saw Mr. Molotov on October 26 he left a copy of the attached Aide-Mémoire but explained that it had been prepared for his, General Bradley’s, use and he was leaving it as of possible assistance to the interpreter.

In addition to the report of the conversation contained in Moscow’s telegram number 353, October 27, 12 noon, I should inform you that when General Bradley informed Molotov that General Adler⁹⁹ would make the Caucasus survey, Molotov pointed out that the question of air assistance in the Caucasus had been discussed a long time ago and what was now wanted was the arrival of the planes and crews.¹ It was disappointing that instead of planes a survey was now to be made. He said that everything necessary would be waiting at the fields regardless of the survey.

The foregoing remarks were made in a pleasant manner and Molotov did not give the impression that he was opposed to a survey but simply that the assistance was needed quickly and that the Soviet Government was disappointed at the delay.

In reply Bradley said that he realized the need for Speed and was sure that the matter was now being pushed but he pointed out that this was not under his jurisdiction and he could not comment on it officially.

Inasmuch as the Caucasus survey had not been mentioned in any Department telegrams I did not include this report in my telegram to you.

Llewellyn E. Thompson

[Annex]

Moscow, October 26, 1942.

Aide-Mémoire

In his report to Washington of his conference with Premier Stalin of October 6, 1942, General Bradley informed the United States authorities that permission to make surveys of Soviet air bases in the Caucasus and Eastern Siberia had been granted.² He has now been informed that the Caucasus survey will be made by a joint United States-British mission on which Brigadier General E. E. Adler will represent the United States.

With respect to the survey of Eastern Siberian bases, General Bradley has been instructed to return to the United States via China and Alaska for consultation on the Far Eastern situation as it might mutually affect the United States and the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics and to defer making the survey until his return to the Soviet Union following his conferences in Washington.³ He would therefore be grateful if an officer could be designated with whom he could discuss the details of his flight into China and from China through Siberia into Alaska.

General Bradley also suggests that an officer be designated with whom he might discuss in detail the Far Eastern situation in order that he may be in a position to inform the authorities in Washington with respect to the Soviet Union’s facilities and possible needs for air force cooperation in the Far East. In this connection General Bradley would be glad to call at the headquarters of the Soviet Armies in the Far East should this be considered desirable to supplement the discussions in Moscow.

99. Brig. Gen. Elmer E. Adler, who arrived on November 21, 1942, in Moscow with his party, and departed on December 26, 1942.
1. For a message from President Roosevelt to Stalin on October 12 regarding aviation assistance to the Soviet Union, see note No. L–15 from the Ambassador in the Soviet Union to the People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union, p. 733.
2. General Bradley’s report has not been found in Department files. For Ambassador Standley’s comments on the meeting with Stalin on October 6, see footnote 88, p. 653. He also reported in telegram No. 869 of October 10, that “General Bradley has informed me that negotiations regarding the use of the Siberian ferry service have been resumed.” (861.248/250)
3. General Bradley had been ordered home for consultation late in October by way of China and Siberia. By November 5, 1942, he had received permission from the Chinese and Soviet Governments for this flight, and he left Kuibyshev on November 13, for Tashkent and Chungking. In Admiral Ambassador to Russia, pp. 255, 256, Standley relates that “on October 24, the Soviet delegation told General Bradley that, since ALSIB matters were progressing so satisfactorily, their government felt that there was no further need to continue discussions; they had been ordered to dissolve the mission.” It was through the efforts of General Bradley that this air route “was opened and kept open; hundreds of Lend-Lease combat aircraft were flown to Russia for use on the Eastern Front, when the Russians badly needed all the help they could get.”