861.24/6–1147
The Secretary of the Navy (Forrestal) to the Secretary of State
My Dear Mr. Secretary: In my letter of 8 May with regard to return by Russia of lend-lease vessels, I listed therein the types and number of vessels which should be returned to the United States Government. Subsequent to this letter, the State–War–Navy Coordinating Subcommittee reexamined the list of vessels to be recaptured, but the members of the Committee were unable to reach a unanimous agreement. The Navy Member took the position that “for military and security reasons, vessels originally listed for recapture and return to the custody of the United States should be returned if in a serviceable condition. However, if in the course of negotiation for settlement of the lend-lease agreement with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, it appears necessary to curtail the list the Navy Department suggests that curtailment be made in the following order of priority:
- a.
- Landing Craft, Infantry, (LCIL)
- b.
- Motor Mine Sweepers (YMS)
- c.
- Submarine Chasers (SC, PTC, & RPC)
- d.
- Large Mine Sweepers (AM)
- e.
- Torpedo Boats (PT & BPT)
- f.
- Frigates (PF)
- g.
- Ice Breakers (CR)
No curtailment should be made in items f and g.”
In your letter of June 4 I note that in your opinion “the present Navy Department proposal on the one hand will get back little or nothing for us and on the other hand will add to the existing hard feelings and the consequent complications in the negotiations ahead.” [Page 695] As you know I have felt that the United States should not be a contributor to the maintenance of the U.S.S.R. war potential. Notwithstanding this, I am prepared to admit that minor contributions may be outweighted by political advantages, and, in deference to your opinion and at your request, I submit a suggested curtailed list of vessels to be returned as follows:
| Type | Number of Vessels to be Returned | |
| Ice Breakers (CR) | 3 | |
| Frigates (PF) | 28 | (or all serviceable ones)* |
| Landing Craft, Infantry (LCIL) | 15 | |
| Torpedo Boats (BT & BPT) | 101 | |
| Submarine Chasers (SC, PTC & RPC) | 70 |
It is understood that naval vessels in excess of the foregoing will be offered for sale to Russia.1
Sincerely yours,
- Frigates, which are substantially the same as destroyer escorts, are combatant ships and their sale or transfer is not permitted by current statute. [Footnote in the source text.]↩
- In his reply of
June 18, Secretary of State Marshall wrote:
“I am glad to have your agreement with my view that the rigid demand for the return of all the vessels you originally listed would not compensate for the adverse political effect that would undoubtedly arise, and that releasing to the Soviets the limited number of vessels you list would be only a minor contribution to the negotiations ahead.
“I think we are in consonance in our common purpose of avoiding significant contributions to the war potential of any nation whose activities appear to frustrate world peace.” (861.24/6–1147)
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