711.00111 Armament Control/Military Secrets/2289
The Secretary of State to Gibbs and Cox, Inc., New York, N. Y.
Sirs: I acknowledge the receipt of your letter of November 1, 1939,13 with further reference to the plans and specifications prepared by you for the construction of destroyers in this country for the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and have to inform you that I am in receipt of a letter of November 14 from the Acting Secretary of the Navy in regard to this matter.13 The Acting Secretary of the Navy states that the plans and specifications referred to above were predicated on the assumption that these destroyers would be built in the United States. As you have now stated that [Page 901] there are no shipbuilding facilities available in this country for the construction of these vessels, the Navy Department does not desire that the plans and specifications referred to above be transmitted either in whole or in part to representatives of the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The most recent plans and specifications which were transmitted to the Navy Department will be returned to you by that Department.
Very truly yours,
Chief, Division of Controls