Office of the Historian

861.24/1620: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Standley)

Washington, August 16, 1943—11 p.m.

699. From Stettinius for Faymonville. See paragraph 2 of your telegram 104625 for reference. Statements by the Commissar about various factors in the Pacific shipping situation are well understood by officials in the United States. During August there has been no lack of ships; rather the case is that loadings are expected to be unusually heavy in August. However, weakness in the schedule is apparent for September, and active and sympathetic consideration is therefore being given to the Soviet request for the transfer of four or five additional ships during September.

Paragraph 3 is the reference. The Apsheron, a tanker fully loaded with cargo of alcohol, sailed from San Francisco August 12. Another tanker, Moskva, is enroute to the United States. By the time the vessel is ready the cargo is expected to be available for loading. There are expected two small tankers during the latter part of this month for alcohol loading. At the time the tankers present for loading it is expected the desired quantities will be available. There is expected at the end of the month the tanker Tuapse and the cargo will be assembled as quickly as possible. Delivery before September 10 of cargo cannot be assured. Such delivery is dependent upon prompt loading of the Moskva since storage facilities for one large tanker load at a time exist. Material must be transported from Midwest and South to these tanks. There cannot be any holding of tank cars under load, and upon arrival at destination they must be discharged promptly. [Page 775] Thorough examination of West Coast tank facilities was made early this spring and arrangements for the terminal presently used were made after considerable work; no other facilities are obtainable. Furthermore, there is no shortage of alcohol, but the physical limitations involved in the use of tank cars and tank storage make it impossible to establish a better schedule of deliveries as outlined herewith. [Stettinius.]

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