861.24/12–2446
The Chairman of the Government Purchasing Commission of the Soviet Union in the U.S.A. (Eremin) to the Lend-Lease Administrator (Lane)
Dear Mr. Lane: In connection with your letters of November 27 and December 17, 1946, I am authorized to communicate to you that, in accordance with instructions, the Government Purchasing Commission of the Soviet Union in the USA is prepared to meet the request of the American party as outlined in the letters mentioned above and to deposit for administrative expenses of the Treasury Department the fund of 2½% of the procurement cost of the goods and equipment which are incompleted in production or undelivered from factories after December 31, 1946. Provided that such sum deposited will be deducted from the sum billed to my Government for the first payment of the interest under Agreement of October 15, 1945, payment of which is due on July 1, 1947.
The Government Purchasing Commission of the Soviet Union in the USA is also prepared to furnish the Treasury Department with the fund of $100,000.00 to cover the storage charges for goods and equipment, with the understanding that, upon the determination of actual charges, appropriate adjustment will be made, either by refunds to my Government or by additional payments to the Treasury Department, as the case may be.
It is understood that the Treasury Department will continue after December 31, 1946, as it has to the present, to fulfil its functions in connection with the delivery to the Soviet Union of the goods and equipment provided for in the agreement of October 15, 1945, and the Government Purchasing Commission of the Soviet Union in the USA will pay upon presentation of invoices for the actual storage expenses, transportation and accessorial charges incident thereto.
The Government Purchasing Commission of the Soviet Union in the USA deems it necessary that the Treasury Department will take the required steps to expedite the dates of completion of production and shipment of the goods and equipment, and that the specified dates of the deliveries will be agreed upon with the Purchasing Commission.
Yours sincerely,