Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1941, General, The Soviet Union, Volume I

861.6363/413a: Telegram

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

Washington, September 30, 1941—7 p.m.

1103. 1. We have been informed by representatives of the British Government that they have been exercised for some time as to whether the Soviet Government would take sufficiently far in advance preparatory measures which would enable it to destroy completely the oil wells and oil industrial equipment in the Caucasus in case the danger, which now seems remote, should become imminent of the success of German plans to seize the Caucasus. They express concern lest, in case of German military successes, the Soviet authorities might delay so long the work of destruction that German troops would arrive before the completion of that work.

2. We have been told by these representatives that they are prepared to give the Soviet Government assurances, in case they deem it necessary so to do in order to prevail upon the Soviet authorities to act with sufficient promptness, that if the oil industry in the Caucasus should be destroyed in order to prevent it from falling into German hands, the British Government would assist by every means in its power the Soviet Government in obtaining from the sterling area needed oil supplies both during the course of hostilities and during the post war reconstruction period and later in obtaining equipment from the same area to replace that which has been destroyed.

3. It is stated by these representatives that it will be helpful if the Government of the United States would simultaneously give assurances of a similar nature to the Soviet Government.

4. After having given careful consideration to the British proposal we have decided to authorize you, in case the situation should become so acute that further delay would appear to be dangerous, to call upon the appropriate official, preferably Stalin himself, and to inform him orally that your Government has authorized you to make the following statement:

“In case there should be oil shortages in the Soviet Union as a result of the destruction by the Soviet Government of the oil extracting and processing industries in the Caucasus for the purpose of preventing the oil resources and refineries in that area from being exploited and utilized by the forces of the aggressor, the Government of the United States will take such steps as are legal and necessary in order to enable the Soviet Government to purchase and obtain the delivery of oil and oil products in or available to the United States for use in the present struggle against aggression or for use in carrying on the work of the reconstruction of the Soviet Union after the cessation of hostilities on a basis at least as favorable as that on which similar products will be sold and made available to other countries which have consistently made sacrifices in their efforts to overcome the forces of aggression.

“The Government of the United States will adopt a similar attitude with respect to such efforts as the Soviet Government might need to make, both during and following the termination of hostilities, to obtain oil extracting and refining machinery in the United States to replace that which it has destroyed.”

You may add orally that this Government would furthermore be disposed to lend its good offices to prevail upon other oil producing nations to adopt a similar policy.

5. You are also authorized to leave a copy of the above statement in the form of an aide-mémoire with the Soviet official with whom you talk.

6. It is believed that parallel although, of course, independent action in regard to this matter on the part of the American and British Embassies in Moscow would be advantageous. Please, therefore, cooperate closely with respect to it with your British colleague.¹⁷ It would be preferable if, before making the statement, you would consult the Department with regard to the timeliness thereof. In case, however, it would be impossible for you to communicate with the Department or, if for some reason you should feel that you should make the statement without losing the time involved in exchanging communications with the Department, you may do so without further instructions.¹⁸ In such an event please inform the Department of your action at the first opportunity.¹⁹

Hull

17. The British Government had sent a similar telegram to Sir Stafford Cripps on September 23, 1941.
18. The Ambassador replied in his telegram No. 1745, October 2, 1941, that he would “take the action authorized whenever circumstances appear to warrant.” (861.6363/414)
19. See telegram No. 1961, November 21, from the Chargé in the Soviet Union, p. 658.