Office of the Historian

740.00119 Council/9–1146: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Secretary of State, at Paris43

top secret
us urgent
Washington, September 11, 1946—noon.

4738. Secdel 865. Clayton to Secretary. If you approve we plan request within few days that USSR begin lend-lease settlement discussions [Page 854] here early date say 15 October apart from any discussion billion dollar loan and from other questions heretofore mentioned in correspondence USSR as part of group of related economic questions. Proposed note to USSR will mention only lend-lease matters. Discussions would cover matters under Soviet Master Lend-Lease Agreement, including Article VII thereof extent feasible, and including matter of vessels to be returned or purchased in accordance United States law. Remoteness of loan prospect and other considerations of which you are aware commend this course. May we proceed.44

Clayton
  1. The Secretary of State was chairman of the U.S. delegation to the Paris Peace Conference, held July 29–October 15, 1946.↩
  2. The Secretary of State replied in telegram 4588, Delsec 939, September 12, 5 p.m., from Paris, that he concurred fully in this proposed procedure, and hoped that the question would be pressed vigorously (740.00119 Council/9–1246).↩