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  4. Document 742

761.56/9–1950

The Under Secretary of State ( Webb ) to the Ambassador of the Soviet Union ( Panyushkin )

undated

Particular reference is made to my conversation of May 31, 1950 with the Soviet Charge Mr. Bazykin in which Mr. Bazykin stated that; the Soviet Government could not return the icebreakers North Wind and West Wind by June 1950, as was previously promised by the Soviet Government. Mr. Bazykin explained that the two icebreakers remained caught in the ice and were drifting westward. It was further stated by Mr. Bazykin that these craft were expected to break out of the ice in late September or early October and would be delivered in the port of Bremerhaven in November or December of this year. Mr. Bazykin agreed that the Soviet Government would keep the Government of the United States informed as to the progress of the vessels.

The Government of the United States now requests the Soviet Government to provide information as to the progress of the two vessels in freeing themselves from the ice pack and requests that the Soviet Government advise the Government of the United States [Page 1316] at the earliest possible moment of the date when the delivery of the two icebreakers will be effected at Bremerhaven, Germany.1

Accept [etc.]

James E. Webb
  1. In a memorandum of September 14 the Assistant Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Willard L. Thorp recapitulated the background of the efforts by the United States to obtain the return of the two icebreakers by the Soviet Union. He recommended the signature of this note by Under Secretary of State James E. Webb, and included this further observation in the memorandum: “The Department of the Navy is extremely anxious to repossess these craft and has requested that the Department of State continue to press for their return. It is believed advisable at this time to request the Soviet Government to report on the progress of the icebreakers in freeing themselves from the ice pack. This would serve as a reminder to the Soviets of our continuing interest in obtaining, the return of these craft and would be in line with the request of the Department of the Navy.” (761.56/9–1450)↩