811.20 Defense (M) U.S.S.R./5
The Department of State to the Embassy of the Soviet Union
Memorandum
The Department has received the Memorandum of the Embassy of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics dated August 12, 1941 and is gratified to note that the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics approves the sale to American government agencies [Page 819] and private importers in this country of the various materials listed in the Embassy’s Memorandum.67
The Memorandum of the Embassy states that the Soviet Government understands that the prices and other terms of delivery of the materials are subject to mutual voluntary agreements between the respective Soviet commercial agencies and American government agencies and private importers. The Department suggests that the Embassy designate the Soviet commercial agencies with whom the negotiations as to prices and other terms of delivery should be undertaken. The Federal Loan Agency is prepared to begin negotiations at once with these Soviet commercial agencies for the purchase of the products which the Federal Loan Agency may wish to acquire for its own account, and is also prepared to assist in facilitating the negotiations to be undertaken between the Soviet commercial agencies and private importers in the United States.
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A United States memorandum of July 28, 1941, listed various materials which it was desired to purchase from the Soviet Union. The materials, and proposed quantities desired, were listed under the headings of iridium, platinum, manganese, chrome ore, asbestos, drugs, raw opium, rabbit skins, bristles, and Turkish type tobacco. (811.20 Defense (M) /3043b)
The reply of the Soviet Embassy on August 12, 1941, listed the materials and quantities available of the strategic war materials for delivery to the United States “within a period of five years after the conclusion of the present war”, as well as the items of which there were no export surpluses. (811.20 Defense (M) U.S.S.R./5)
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