861.24/538: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 16—12:40 a.m.]
1511. For the President, the Secretary, and Under Secretary. My 1510, August 15, 10 p.m. In commenting on the requirements of war material Stalin requested me to invite the attention of the President to the difficulties of transporting tanks from the United States to the Soviet Union and said that armor plate would be the “easiest way of rendering this assistance.” He added that the Soviet requirements are 150,000 tons of armor plate of 20, 37, 45 and 75 millimeter thickness and said that detailed specifications had already been sent to Washington. He also requested me to stress the Soviet need for aluminum plates. In this connection Cripps said that he would also bring the subject of aluminum plates to the attention of his Government.
In so far as concerns the routing of material Stalin expressed the view that Archangel affords a safer and quicker means of entry than Vladivostok not only because of the possibility of complications with Japan resulting from the use of the latter port but because of the long Trans-Siberian rail haul.
Stalin’s attitude throughout the interview was extremely cordial. At its close he took a final look at his reply to the joint message which he had dictated and, taking the document out of my hand he remarked, with a smile, “I think I should change Comrade Stalin to Mr. Stalin,” which he thereupon did on both drafts.