861.24/1–446
Mr. Willard L. Thorp, Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, to the Chairman of the Government Purchasing Commission of the Soviet Union in the U.S.A. (Rudenko)
My Dear General Rudenko: On October 15, 1945 Mr. Leo J. [T.] Crowley, Foreign Economic Administrator, wrote you concerning the preparation of an inventory of Lend-Lease supplies in the possession of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or subject to its control at the end of hostilities.78 The inventory was requested as a part of the information believed to be desirable in preparation of a Lend-Lease settlement with your Government, under the terms of the Master Agreement of June 11, 1942.79 Mr. Crowley asked that the data be presented at the earliest possible opportunity.
I understand that Mr. Crowley’s communication was transmitted to Moscow. Since more than two months have elapsed without a response, I would be glad to know when such an inventory might be expected.
In the preparation of an inventory estimate, it has been found convenient in the case of other countries to divide supplies into two groups: (1) those destined for direct use by the armed forces, or in their actual possession, and (2) those destined for use or consumption by other agencies. It has proved desirable to arrange the information in accordance with the following separation into three basic categories of supplies, allocating to each of the two groups the categories or parts of categories concerned: (a) durable capital equipment, whether distributed to the ultimate user or not; (b) non-durable goods, such as raw materials which require further fabrication (an inventory of goods in category (b) is desired only for goods not distributed to the ultimate user or processor by the end of hostilities); (c) equipment or materials transferred in finished form, other than durable capital equipment. This last category would include weapons, airplanes, trucks, vessels, food, petroleum products, etc. An inventory of category (c) goods is desired only of such equipment or materials as was [Page 819] still in central distribution centers or en route to them at the time of the end of hostilities.
All inventories are desirable in terms of units, rather than rubles or dollars, and it is not necessary that they should be stated in great detail.
I should appreciate hearing from you in the near future as to when inventory estimates may become available. If this request should be transmitted to an official other than yourself, please advise me to that effect.
Sincerely yours,
- Foreign Relations, 1945, vol. v, p. 1043.↩
- Department of State Executive Agreement Series No. 253, or 56 Stat. (pt. 2) 1500.↩