Office of the Historian

861.24/1084: Telegram

The Second Secretary of Embassy in the Soviet Union (Thompson) to the Secretary of State

Moscow, September 28, 1942—noon.
[Received September 29—9:25 a.m.]

384. From Faymonville for Stettinius. At Kremlin dinner for Wendell Willkie29 September 25 [26] Stalin expressed great dissatisfaction over Lend-Lease shipments of older types of munitions from the United States and United Kingdom, in place of newer types which he said are needed on Russian front. Stalin especially angry that United Kingdom is shipping Hurricane type planes instead of [Page 726] Spitfires and that United States is shipping P–40’s instead of Aircobras desired. He also bluntly stated his indignation at British diversion of over 100 Aircobras previously promised to Soviet Union for British quota. British Ambassador was present and replied that diversion of Aircobras would eventually be recognized as a step for the common good. Stalin later remarked to me that need for shipment munitions here remains extreme. He indicated that he was unconvinced by the British Ambassador’s reply and persisted that diversion of planes intended for Soviet Union was unjustifiable.

Repeated to Kuibyshev. [Faymonville.]

Thompson
  1. Wendell L. Willkie, Special Representative of President Roosevelt. description of this dinner conversation appears in a portion of the undated memorandum by Ambassador Standley, p. 637. For reports on his visit to the Soviet Union during September, see pp. 637–650, passim. ↩