711.94114 Supplles/69: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 25—1:10 p.m.]
2035. Embassy’s 1869, November 7, 2 p.m. A memorandum on this subject was handed to Hamilton on November 23 by the Chief of American Section of the Foreign Office. The memorandum confirms the oral statements of Foreign Office reported in telegram under reference and states that there must have been some misunderstanding “inasmuch as it was contemplated that the transport of the abovementioned 1500 tons of cargo would be fully adequate to assure the first rapid shipment to Japan of foodstuffs and medical supplies as soon as an agreement was reached between the Japanese and American Governments”.
The memorandum concludes: “The Soviet Government considers that on basis of the considerations set forth above, there is no further necessity for further shipment to Vladivostok of cargoes above the agreed monthly stock for storage, having particularly in mind that this would entail the unproductive overfilling of the warehouses.”
Zarubin stated that 500 tons supplies have already arrived at Vladivostok and that the remaining 1000 tons are on the point of leaving Portland, if they have not already been shipped. He said that he had been instructed to assure United States Embassy that the Soviet Government is prepared to cooperate in arranging further shipments as soon as an agreement between American and Japanese Governments is reached.