861.24/9–1244: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 12—9:30 p.m.]
3459. Following the receipt by the Embassy of the Department’s 2045, August 26, 8 p.m., the head of the Supply Division of the [Page 1135] Military Mission communicated on the subject with the War Department and has been informed in reply that while the desired information concerning Soviet minerals production would be of considerable value, it is not desired that the Soviet authorities be pressed for these data. I am therefore not making a request to the Foreign Office for the statistics as from past experience a request for information of this character will be completely disregarded by the Soviet Government.
We will bear in mind in the regular economic research work of the Mission the need for information on these subjects and will submit any information as it becomes available.