861.24/1162: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in the Soviet Union (Henderson)
588. Your 452, November 11, 9 p.m.68 The interested Soviet authorities have through the Soviet Purchasing Commission here informed [Page 748] the War Production Board that they will be glad to receive a technical commission for the exchange of information concerning the manufacture of synthetic rubber and have suggested that a similar Soviet commission be sent to the United States to which War Production Board agreed.
War Production Board has designated the following members of the commission who are expected to proceed as soon as possible to the Soviet Union: E. W. Pittman, who will head the commission; Dr. A. V. Grosse; Dr. Willis A. Gibbons; and Irvin L. Murray.
After consultation with Admiral Standley it has been decided to designate Mr. Pittman attaché of the Embassy during his stay in the Soviet Union and the other members of the commission as his assistants. All will bear diplomatic passports. Please convey the foregoing to the Commissariat For Foreign Affairs. Request them to expedite the authorization of visas to the above mentioned members of the commission for which application is being made at the Soviet Embassy here. The commission hopes to depart in the very near future.
- Not printed; it stated that the Embassy would not broach the matter of exchange of information regarding synthetic rubber with the Soviet Foreign Office until further instructions had been received from the Department, since it was assumed that the War Production Board, in cooperation with the Department of State, might desire to formulate the formal proposal.↩