861.24/9–2749
United States Side Minutes of Combined Meeting1
Present
| U.S. | USSR |
| Mr. W. L. Thorp, U.S. Chairman | The Soviet Ambassador, Alexander S. Panyushkin |
| Mr. R. G. Hooker, Head U.S. Working Group on Naval Craft | |
| Aide to Soviet Ambassador Adm. N. A. Piterski, Sov. Navy | |
| Capt, Wm. O. Floyd, USN | |
| Lt. Comdr. J. C. Davis, USN | Capt. 2nd C1. M. I. Vanyukin, Sov. Navy |
| Mr. C. C. Matlock | |
| Mr. M. H. Cardozo | Mr. B. K. Sokolov, Sov. Emb. (Interpreter) |
| Mr. F. T. Murnhv | |
| Mr. J. M. McSweeney | |
| Mr. G. E. Truesdell |
The purpose of this meeting was to sign the “Agreement on Dates and Procedures for Return of Three Icebreakers and Twenty-Seven Frigates of the United States Navy Received by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Under the Lend-Lease Act”2 which had been [Page 740] agreed upon the previous evening by the working group on Naval craft. After initial introductions Mr. Thorp and the Ambassador signed two English texts and two Russian texts of the agreement true copies of which are attached hereto (D–119–A–3).3 After completion of the signing, Mr. Thorp asked the Soviet Ambassador if the Soviet Naval experts were prepared to discuss the question of the other Naval craft, which subject had been included in recent correspondence between our two Governments. Mr. Thorp mentioned that both sides had contemplated that certain of remaining Naval craft would be returned by the Soviet Union and certain would be sold under surplus property arrangements. The Ambassador stated that he had requested instructions from Moscow concerning these and other lend-lease matters but had not as yet had a reply. He agreed to inform Mr. Thorp when such instructions had been received. He added that he was now occupied at the United Nations General Assembly in New York and thus there might be some delay. Mr. Thorp replied that he felt this was a matter which could be discussed more efficiently by the experts and thus a meeting with the Ambassador would not be necessary.
After the meeting Mr. Sokolov provided information by telephone to Mr. Truesdell that the frigate which had been lost and would not be returned was that bearing Hull number 35.