800.24/9–347
The Acting Secretary of State to the Secretary of War ( Royall )
Dear Mr. Secretary: In enacting Public Law 271, approved July 30, 1947, the 80th Congress indicated its acquiescence in the carrying to completion of the lend-lease pipeline agreements with the ten countries named therein.36 It also indicated its intention that the Agreement of October 15, 1945 with the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics37 should not be carried out further. It is believed that your Department has on hand certain lend-lease material to be delivered under the agreements with the ten authorized governments, and also a number of articles, including railroad locomotives, intended for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
In view of the intent reflected by the enactment of Public Law 271 this Department hopes that delivery of all material for the ten named countries can be effected promptly. Please advise if there is any assistance that this Department can render in carrying out this purpose.
In view of the intention of Congress expressed by the omission of [Page 122] the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics from the list of authorized countries, lend-lease material held, or under contract, for that Government should not be transferred or shipped under the Agreement of October 15, 1945. All such articles should be disposed of in a manner that will best serve the interests of the United States, either as surplus or in fulfillment of some other requirement of this Government.
If any questions arise in connection with this subject, please do not hesitate to call on this Department for assistance.38
Faithfully yours,
- For an act making supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1948, and for other purposes, July 30, 1947, see 61 Stat. 613; Guatemala, Brazil, and Peru were the only three Latin American countries among the ten countries named. For background information on “pipeline” contracts for sale of lend-lease supplies, see letters of January 17 and February 13, 1947, from Under Secretary Clayton and Lend-Lease Administrator Lane, respectively, to Senator Styles Bridges, in Department of State Bulletin, February 23, 1947, p. 343.↩
- For text of agreement, see Department of State Treaties and Other International Acts Series No. 3662; for documentation, see Foreign Relations, 1945, vol. v, pp. 937 ff.↩
- In reply, Secretary Royall informed the Secretary of State in a letter of September 16 that necessary action would be taken within the War Department to effect prompt delivery of lend-lease pipeline materials to the authorized governments, and all lend-lease material held or under contract for the USSR would be disposed of in such a manner as to best serve the interests of the United States (800.24/9–1647).↩