Moscow Embassy Files: Lot F–96
The American Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Standley) to the People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union (Molotov)
My Dear Mr. Molotov: I have the honor to inform you that I have been requested to transmit the following message dated June 16 from President Roosevelt to Premier Stalin: [Page 763]
Secret and Personal Message From President Roosevelt to Premier Stalin
“I have given instructions that you are to receive during the remainder of 1943 the following additional planes over the new Protocol Agreement:
- “78 B–25 bombers,
- “600 P–40–N fighters.
“We have no fighters that are more maneuverable than the P–40–N type which was used with excellent results in the recent fighting in Tunisia. This plane proved to be our best protection against dive bombers. It also proved to be highly useful in covering low level strafing attacks of the P–39’s.
We will be in a position to furnish you in November with a shipping schedule covering the last half of the protocol year as we will by that time have again reviewed the aircraft situation.”
I would appreciate it if you would transmit the above message to Premier Stalin.
Sincerely,