861.24/1141
The Ambassador of the Soviet Union (Litvinov) to the Secretary of State 50
Dear Mr. Secretary: I have the honor to refer to the agreement dated as of September 12, 1941 entered into between the Defense Supplies Corporation and the Amtorg Trading Corporation of New York, for the sale to the Defense Supplies Corporation of strategic materials, the performance of which Agreement was duly guaranteed by the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
This agreement was made in a spirit of mutual assistance and in harmony with the desire of the two Governments to meet the military and economic requirements of the respective countries at the time of its execution.
Taking into consideration the fact that the supply of materials under the agreement depends entirely upon organizations under the control and supervision of the Commissariat of Foreign Trade in the U. S. S. R., and in the light of the military situation and the difficulties of transportation and shipment in both countries, the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics has reached the conclusion that the purpose of the agreement would be better served if the Commissariat of Foreign Trade of the U. S. S. R. be substituted as the principal and assume the obligations of the Amtorg Trading Corporation under the agreement and the said Corporation act in the future, in connection with the agreement, as the agent of the Commissariat of Foreign Trade in the United States.
The above has been the subject of direct negotiations between officials of the Defense Supplies Corporation and Amtorg Trading Corporation, but it has been suggested by the Secretary of Commerce that the matter be presented through the State Department.
Trusting that this proposal of my Government will meet with the full approval of the Government of the United States, I shall appreciate an early reply.
Sincerely yours,
- Handed to Assistant Secretary of State Acheson on October 16.↩