861.24/9–1345
Memorandum by Major General C. M. Wesson, Director, U.S.S.R. Branch, Foreign Economic Administration, to the Administrator (Crowley)
Subject: Transfer by the U.S.S.R. to Third Nations Commodities Which are Similar to Those Received Under Lend-Lease Without the Approval of the U.S. Government
Our Government has been writing notes to Russia on this subject for nearly two years. These notes have been systematically ignored and the U.S.S.R. continued to export goods similar to those received [Page 1039] under Lend-Lease from the United States. It was not until September 2, when Lend-Lease to Russia had practically ceased, did Vyshinsky take up the matter with Mr. Harriman pointing out the Russian Government’s attitude on this question, as expressed in the copy of the attached cable.8
If we desire a trade agreement with Russia protecting patents, etc., and if we want an agreement on fishing rights in the waters of the Aleutians and the Bering Sea, or any sort of settlement on Lend-Lease stocks now in the U.S.S.R., or any other agreements where there is a conflict of interest, we should find out where we stand before we grant any Export-Import loan.
- Telegram 3182, September 6, 2 p.m., from Moscow, supra.↩