861.24/9–348
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador of the Soviet Union (Panyushkin)
Excellency: I have the honor to refer to the requests made by the Government of the United States for the return of various lend-lease articles, and particularly to the demands made in the first two paragraphs of Section IV of this Government’s note of September 3, 1948 for the return of articles specified therein pursuant to the Master Lend-Lease Agreement between our two Governments, i.e., the “Agreement between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the principles applying to mutual aid in the prosecution of the war against aggression” concluded on June 11, 1942. No response to this Government’s note of September 3, 1948 has yet been received.
Article V of the Master Lend-Lease Agreement provides as follows:
“The Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics will return to the United States of America at the end of the present emergency, as determined by the President of the United States of America, such defense articles transferred under this Agreement as shall not have been destroyed, lost or consumed and as shall be determined by the President to be useful in the defense of the United States of America or of the Western Hemisphere or to be otherwise of use to the United States of America.”
On July 7, 1948 the President of the United States determined that the emergency relative to the lend-lease program referred to in the provisions of the Master Lend-Lease Agreements between the United States and various lend-lease countries had terminated. As directed [Page 1013] by the President, I hereby advise you that the following defense articles, listed in the first two paragraphs of Section IV of this Government’s note of September 3, 1948, are of use to the United States and the demand for their return to the United States, in accordance with Article V of the Agreement of June 11, 1942, is hereby reiterated:
- 3 Icebreakers, AGCR
- 28 Frigates, PF
- 15 Landing Craft, Infantry, LCI (L)
- 101 Torpedo Boats, PT
- 39 Large Submarine Chasers, SC
- 31 Small Submarine Chasers, PTC and RPC
The Government of the United States, in addition to demanding the return of the defense articles stated above, reserves its rights under Article V of the Agreement of June 11, 1942 to demand the return to the United States under the provisions of this Article of such other lend-lease articles as may be determined to be of use of the United States.
Accept [etc.]