861.48/1019b
The Secretary of State to the Secretary of War (Baker)
Sir: I understand that proposals are now being made to you to purchase War Department surplus materials, such as clothing, shoes, cloth, et cetera, for shipment to South Russia, and it seems appropriate to indicate the attitude of this Department towards such sales and shipments.
This Department believes that all proper encouragement should be given to such transactions, first, because the need for clothing and other necessities in South Russia is today as great as anywhere else in the world, so that in furthering shipments to that region a distinct humanitarian purpose is accomplished, and second, because the distribution of such supplies will furnish an incentive for the movement of local raw products out of South Russia. This latter will be a most important factor in establishing normal economic conditions and will considerably assist the rehabilitation of Russia.
I have [etc.]