Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, Conferences at Malta and Yalta, 1945

Roosevelt Papers

The Secretary of State to the President

[ Yalta ,] February 10, 1945.

Memorandum for the President

Subject: Article VII of the Lend-Lease Agreement.¹

Before I left Washington, Mr. Clayton told me that the British have said that you have never mentioned Article VII to Churchill. For this reason, Churchill has obtained the impression that you are not very much interested in this subject.

This mistaken impression on the part of the Prime Minister has tended to encourage the British to take an unyielding attitude on the matter of their Empire preferences and trade barriers.

I think it would be helpful, in this connection, if you could send to the Prime Minister the attached letter² on this subject before you leave Yalta.

Stettinius

1. For the text of this agreement, signed at Washington February 23, 1942, see Department of State Executive Agreement Series No. 241, or 56 Stat. 1433.
2. Infra.