861.24/10–3146
The Department of State to the Embassy of the Soviet Union
Aide-Mémoire
On September 14, 1946 the Acting Secretary of State addressed a note to the Embassy of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics proposing that discussions commence in Washington on or before October 15, 1946 for the purpose of arriving at a final determination of the obligations of our two Governments in accordance with the terms of the Master Lend-Lease Agreement of June 11, 1942. This note further proposed that these discussions be limited to the topics covered by the Master Lend-Lease Agreement of June 11, 1942 and [Page 856] requested that, if this proposal met with the approval of the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, an indication be made to the Government of the United States at an early date of the names of those persons authorized to represent the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in these discussions.
This note reaffirmed the position of the Government of the United States, as set forth in its note of March 18, 1946, that the purchase of dry-cargo vessels, tankers and other merchant vessels, use and custody of which were transferred to the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics under the Lend-Lease Act, is governed by existing statutes of the United States and that those vessels not purchased must be returned to the Government of the United States in conformity with such statutes. The Government of the United States expressed its desire that discussion of the disposition of these vessels also commence on or before October 15, 1946.
This note requested advice from the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as to when three ice-breakers of the United States Navy, use and custody of which were transferred to the Soviet Government under the Lend-Lease Act, would be ready for return to the Government of the United States as previously requested in the note of the Secretary of State dated July 26, 1946.
The Government of the United States desires to be informed as to when it may expect a reply to its note of September 14, 1946.