861.24/750: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Thurston) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 4—2:37 a.m.]
1995. “Aide-mémoire.34 In reply to the aide-mémoire of November 21, 1941, of the American Embassy, the Soviet Government communicates that it highly esteems the readiness of the Government of the United States to afford to the Soviet Union, if a shortage of oil should [Page 660] occur in the Soviet Union by virtue of the circumstances set forth in the aide-mémoire, the possibility of purchasing petroleum and petroleum products and of guaranteeing their delivery to the U. S. S. R. from the United States or from sources at the latter’s disposal for use in the present war against aggression or in the course of the rehabilitation work in the Soviet Union after the cessation of military operations.
The Soviet Government notes with satisfaction the declaration of the Government of the United States that the latter will also take the same attitude with respect to the obtainment in the United States by the Soviet Government of equipment for the extraction and refining of oil for the purpose of replacing that destroyed both during the time of military operations and also after their termination. The Soviet Government also notes with satisfaction the declaration by the Government of the United States of the latter’s readiness to grant the aforesaid facilities to the Soviet Union on conditions which will be at least as favorable as those on which similar products will be sold and put at the disposal of other countries fighting against aggression.
Kuibyshev, November 25, 1941.”
- In his preceding telegram the Chargé explained that Assistant People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs Vyshinsky had handed him this reply on November 28, midnight, after having signed it in his presence and dating it November 25, 1941 (861.6363/420).↩