740.0011 European War 1939/16958: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Thurston) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 30—4:08 p.m.]
1985. Embassy’s 1961, November 21, 6 p.m. The aide-mémoire handed by the British Ambassador to Vyshinski on November 21 contained in addition to the general assurances also proffered in our aide-mémoire, preamble referring to an offer made by him direct to Stalin on July 21 of the assistance of British experts “in regard to the denial to the Germans of the use of any of the Soviet oil fields” and inquiring whether it was now thought that the time had come when these British experts could be of assistance to the Soviet Government.
Cripps has just informed me that although no reply has been received from the Soviet Government with respect to the general assurances, the proffer of the services of these British experts was promptly accepted and that they are expected to arrive in the Caucasus today by air from the Near East.
The British Ambassador requests that this information be regarded as most secret and be given no circulation in the United States.