861.24/8–2745
The Foreign Economic Administrator (Crowley) to the Chairman of the Government Purchasing Commission of the Soviet Union in the U.S.A. (Rudenko)
Dear General Rudenko: Reference is made to my letter of August 18, 1945 outlining certain general principles with respect to the discontinuance of lend-lease aid to your Government.95 I wish now to advise you concerning the application of these general principles in the special field of shipping.
In order that there may be no serious dislocation prejudicial to our mutual interests in the operation of vessels carrying supplies to your country, we are prepared to continue to provide on lend-lease terms, [Page 1034] pursuant to practices prevailing prior to August 18, 1945, ocean transportation on U.S. owned or controlled vessels and services and supplies, with the exception of repairs, to vessels in U.S. ports owned or controlled by your Government. It should be understood that the supplies referred to in subparagraph (b) of my letter of August 18, 1945 would be included in the supplies in connection with which ocean transportation and shipping services and supplies would be provided on lend-lease terms under the proposed arrangement.
The proposed arrangement shall be operative from August 18, 1945 until 30 days after V–J Day, as officially announced by the President. In the absence of an extension beyond that date, the general principles outlined in my letter of August 18 shall become operative in the field of shipping at that time.
General C. M. Wesson will be pleased to discuss with you the implementation of the proposed arrangement.
Sincerely yours,