Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, Europe, Volume V

861.50/12–1145: Telegram

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

Moscow, December 11, 1945—3 p.m.
[Received December 11—9:15 a.m.]

4137. Little information has been received by this Embassy regarding our over-all economic policy towards the Soviet Union and particularly as it relates to Soviet economic policies. This Embassy has not been requested for information or recommendations on the influence or possible effect of our policies on Soviet economic or political positions. From Moscow it would appear that certain decisions are being made in the economic field without relating them to our over-all policy. I have in mind the decision to grant credits for shipments previously ordered on Lend-Lease; UNRRA agreement to provide Ukraine and White Russia with free UNRRA aid;²³ policy regarding future Export-Import Bank credits; and settlement of Lend-Lease under section VII. We have no information on this latter subject and as I have indicated in my letter of October 12 to Clayton,²⁴ I feel full consideration should be given in this connection to all aspects of Soviet economic policies which affect us. It has been my feeling that the longer we delay stating our position the weaker our case will be.

In connection with Soviet economic policy we have protested against or objected to a number of Soviet steps such as trade and economic collaboration agreements with ex-enemy satellites under Control Commission regimes; Soviet seizure of American-owned assets in Red Army-controlled areas; stripping of Korea of Japanese property; the maintaining of large Red Army forces in countries to which we are supplying UNRRA aid, thereby draining off this aid. From Moscow it would appear that piecemeal dealing with these economic subjects can not lead to satisfactory results.

Since Soviet political policy appears to be influenced by economic objectives it would seem that we should give at this time greater attention to the concerting of our economic policy with our political policy towards the Soviet Union.

I hope I may have an opportunity to discuss this question during your visit to Moscow²⁵ because I feel Molotov has economic matters very much in mind.

Harriman

23. For documentation on this subject, see vol. ii, pp. 1001–1049, passim. For an account of UNRRA aid to Byelorussia and the Ukraine, see George Wood-bridge, UNRRA, The History of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (3 volumes, Columbia University Press, New York, 1950), vol. ii, pp. 231 ff. For texts of agreements between UNRRA and the Byelorussian and Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republics, signed December 18, 1945, see ibid., vol. iii, pp. 255, 260, 332, and 337.
24. Not found in Department files.
25. The Secretary of State attended the Moscow Conference of Foreign Ministers of the Soviet Union, United Kingdom, and the United States, December 16–26, 1945.