Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume V

711.61/8–1649: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Kirk) to the Secretary of State

top secret

Moscow, August 16, 1949—1 p. m.

2057. Mytel 2056, August 16.¹ I raised matter lend lease along lines Deptel 567 August 8 emphasizing recent offer settlement for one billion dollars represents less than one tenth value lend lease supplies furnished and that compensation US firms for use patents subject clear and specific agreement. Noted initiation negotiations Washington for return of naval craft.

Though prefacing his response by general caveat that he was not prepared for questions Stalin asserted that the Soviet Government has no intention of failing to fulfill its obligations whether in regard to lend lease patents or otherwise providing the other parties similarly keep their agreements. He claimed that failure to implement agreements is not according to Soviet custom and added that if I had specific instructions on these subjects I might talk to his Minister Foreign Affairs.²

I said that his statement of his government’s attitude towards its obligations would be reassuring to the American people, who will be pleased that the Soviet Government will now implement the Stalin-Roosevelt understanding concerning lend lease payments; and without referring directly to his suggestion that I talk to Vyshinski reiterated that negotiations are in progress between the Department and the Soviet Ambassador in Washington.

Stalin continued that in postwar negotiations certain “norms” had been arrived at for the settlement of matters at issue with various governments notably the British and that while determined to keep its word the Soviet Government would not be discriminated against. I responded that it is my understanding that the US Government has no intention of demanding more from the Soviet Government than from others and I cited in this connection Belgium’s lend lease settlement³ which amounted to 18 percent as compared to the 10 percent contemplated in regard to the Soviet Union. In response to his further inquiry concerning the case of the British, I said I was not informed of the figures in this instance. After interposing allegation that the delay in response to correspondence from the Soviet Government on lend lease had created the impression that the US was not interested in an early settlement and mentioning that the Soviet Government may have counter claims which will have to be considered Stalin said that if the negotiations in Washington should go wrong he is prepared to intervene. I closed this phase by saying that between friends financial questions long unresolved had deleterious effects but that of course in this case a great country like Soviet Union would settle this kind financial problem with another big nation in a big way. Stalin assented with some emphasis. (We would like to know here what effect if any this Stalin attitude actually does produce in your current talks this topic.⁴)

Kirk

1. Ante, p. 646.
2. Andrey Yanuaryevich Vyshinsky became Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union after March 4, 1949.
3. Signed at Washington on September 24, 1946. For text, see Department of State, Treaties and Other International Acts Series (TIAS) 2064, or 62 Stat (pt. 3) 3984.
4. See footnote 5, p. 653.