AF
This telegram must be              Moscow
closely paraphrased be-            Dated August 15, 1941
fore being communicated
to anyone.  (SC)                   Rec'd 12:40 a.m.; 16th
 
Secretary of State,
 
     Washington.
 
     TRIPLE PRI ORI TY
 
     1511, August 15, 11 p.m,
     SECRET FOR THE PRESIDENT, THE SECRETARY, AND
UNDER SECRETARY
 
My 1510, August 15, 10 p.m.
 
     In commenting on the requirements of war material
Stalin requested me to invite the attention of the
President to the difficulties of transporting tanks
from the United States to the Soviet Union and said
that armor plate would be the "easiest way of render-
ing this assistance."  He added that the Soviet re-
quirements are 150,000 tons of armor plate of 20, 37,
45 and 75 millimeter thickness and said that detailed
specifications had already been sent to Washington.
He also requested me to stress the Soviet need for
aluminum plates.  In this connection Cripps said that
he would also bring the subject of aluminum plates to
the attention of his Government.
 
                      STEINHARDT.
 
EMB