711.54/5–550
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador of the Soviet Union (Panyushkin)
Excellency: I have the honor to refer to 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”, and to my conversation of November 12, 1949 with the Soviet Chargé d’Affaires, Mr. Bazykin.
It will be recalled that by the Agreement of September 27, 1949, the Soviet Union was to return the three icebreakers, the North Wind, the South Wind and the West Wind, to the United States at the port of “Bremerhaven, Germany, not later then December 1, 1949. On November [Page 1289] 12, 1949, 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 the South Wind before December 1, and the North Wind and the West Wind at a port in northern Japan in Mayor June 1950, or earlier if possible. In view of the original agreement, the Soviet Government alternatively offered to return all three vessels at Bremerhaven.
On November 29, 1949,1 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. With respect to the other two icebreakers, this Government reserved its position until nearer the time when the two icebreakers could be delivered. Subsequently, the South Wind was in fact returned to the port of Yokosuka, Japan.
The Government of the United States now wishes to express its desire that the two icebreakers, the North Wind and the West Wind be returned at Bremerhaven, Germany, on or before June 30, 1950. If, in the view of your Government, however, it would not be possible to effect delivery of the vessels at the port of Bremerhaven on or before the date of June 30 specified above, the Government of the United States will accept their return at the port of Yokosuka, Japan at the earliest possible date in the May-June period in accordance with the alternative offer of your Government made by Mr. Bazykin on November 12, 1949. My Government will appreciate being informed at the, earliest moment as to the date and port at which the delivery will be effected.
It is the understanding of this Government that the procedure for return as established by the Agreement of September 27, 1949 will apply to the delivery of these two vessels.
Accept [etc.]
- 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. In a conversation with Mr. Rusk on December 6, the Chargé Vladimir Ivanovich Bazykin gave notice that “the Soviet authorities would be able to return the South Wind at the port of Yokosuka not later than December 25.” (811.33/12–649)↩