761.56/11–2150
The Acting Secretary of the Navy ( Kimball ) to the Secretary of State
My Dear Mr. Secretary: The U.S.S.R., as you know, agreed in writing on 27 September 1949, to return the three U.S. icebreakers acquired under the U.S. lend lease program in 1944/45, to Bremerhaven, Germany during October and November 1949. However only one was recovered in December 1949 at Yokosuka, Japan, as the U.S.S.R. advised by note of 12 November that delivery of the others would be deferred until May–June 1950 since they had “not yet succeeded in breaking through the heavy ice of the Arctic which fact renders impossible the transfer of these two icebreakers during the current year.” The U.S.S.R. reply of 31 May 1950, to a U.S. note requesting prompt return of the two vessels to Bremerhaven, stated that these ships were now squeezed in “solid jammed Arctic ice” and could not be delivered before November or December 1950.
I am now in receipt of a copy of the U.S.S.R. note of 1 November 1950 in which it is stated, inter alia, “According to our present information, the icebreakers have not yet gotten out of the ice field into clear water because both have damaged screws. In view of this, unfortunately, it is not yet possible to specify a date for delivery of the icebreakers at Bremerhaven.”
It is my opinion that U.S. recovery of these vessels in the near future is doubtful without a distinctly different reply to the U.S.S.R. “excuses,” hence I propose that the Department of State continue its efforts toward recovery of the icebreakers and now make representations to the U.S.S.R. that, in order to facilitate consideration of possible acceptance of these vessels in their present condition and location, information is desired as to their whereabouts. The U.S. will at least derive some propaganda value from U.S.S.R. refusal to so advise this government, whereas if the information is forthcoming and acceptance accordingly consummated, such action would remove ships from Soviet custody and could provide valuable intelligence information.
Sincerely yours,