740.00119 EW/4–2745: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kennan) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 27—8:23 a.m.]
1381A. ReEmbtel 755 March 14, 2 p.m. [midnight] and 1057 April 6, 10 a.m. [p.m.]. Additional evidence of Soviet policy of seizing and removing to Soviet Union German material or equipment in advance of any reparation settlement is given by observations of a competent official American observer who has just returned to Moscow from trip through Ukraine, eastern Poland and White Russia. He reports extensive movement eastward of used German machinery and equipment of all kinds. He observed, for example, two entire trains loaded with turret lathes, one trainload of steel rails and bars, one of threshing machines from East Prussia, one of farm wagons, etc. French, German and Italian rolling stock which could not be used on Russian gauge without adjustment was being moved east on flat cars. All information reaching Embassy indicates that Russians are seizing and transporting to Soviet Union without compunction any German materials, equipment or supplies which they feel could be of use to them.