711.54/5–550
Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State for Economic Affairs ( Thorp ) to the Under Secretary of State ( Webb )
Background
It will be recalled that, by agreement of September 27, 1949, the Soviet Union was to return to the United States not later than December 1, 1949, three icebreakers loaned to it by the Navy under the Lend-Lease Act. These vessels were to be returned at Bremerhaven, Germany. Subsequently, it was agreed that they would be returned at a port in northern Japan, in view of the unusually heavy ice conditions in the Arctic. On November 12, 1949,1 this Government was informed by the Soviet Chargé d’Affaires that only one icebreaker, the South Wind, could be returned by December 1, the other two, the North Wind and the West Wind, being unable to break through the unusually heavy ice in the Arctic regions. The Soviet Government offered to return all three vessels at a northern Japanese port, the South Wind before December 1 and the North Wind and the West Wind in May or June 1950 or earlier if possible. As an alternative to delivery in Japan and in view of the original agreement the Soviet Government offered to return all three vessels at [Page 1288] Bremerhaven after piloting them through the Arctic from east to west during the 1950 navigation season.
On November 29, 1949, the Soviet Chargé d’Affaires was informed that the United States Government was prepared to accept the icebreaker the South Wind immediately in the port of Yokosuka, Japan.2 With respect to the other two icebreakers, the Soviet Chargé was informed that the question of the port of delivery would be discussed later. Consequently, the South Wind was in fact returned to the port of Yokosuka, Japan.
The Department of the Navy has now informed the Department of State that it desires the two icebreakers the North Wind and the West Wind delivered in Bremerhaven, Germany, unless recovery in Yokosuka, Japan, would appreciably hasten repossession, in which case Yokosuka would be acceptable.3
The attached note which has been approved by the Department of the Navy requests delivery of the two vessels on or before June 30 at Bremerhaven or if this is impossible at Yokosuka, Japan at the earliest possible date in the May-June period specified by the Soviet Government.4
Recommendations
Your signature of the attached note to the Soviet Ambassador is recommended.
- Memorandum of conversation, by Under Secretary of State James E. Webb, November 12, 1949; Foreign Relations, 1949, vol. v, p. 751.↩
- Memorandum of conversation, by the Deputy Under Secretary of State, Dean Rusk, not printed; but see Foreign Relations, 1949, vol. v, footnote 1, p. 752.↩
- This information was contained in a memorandum of April 7, from the Assistant Chief of Naval Operations, Captain Howard E. Orem, to the Director of the Office of Eastern European Affairs, Charles W. Yost; not printed. (761.56/4–750)↩
- Note of May 8, 1950, from the Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador of the Soviet Union, infra.↩