-2- #6147,  December 19, 11 p.m. {SECTION THREE) from London
 
(End Summary)
 
     There was a military reference in a detailed section of
Eden's report which I think is important because I have
understood that the army air service has held a contrary view.
The reference reads as follows: "As regards rocket bomb, Stalin
stated that this had not turned out to be very useful against
tanks, though it was useful against troops. Russians had found
that airplanes fitted with cannon were better against tanks than
those fitted with rocket bombs."
     Would you please see that General Arnold gets this
information but make sure that Eden is protected as conversations
were informal and confidential in character.
     Eden sent an additional special note today which reads as
follows:
     "Stalin's attitude about the Far East is perfectly loyal and
in fact he stated that he would be in a position to help us there
in the spring. He is, however, clearly determined not to provoke
Japan at present and considers that he is not in a position to do
so. In these circumstances I felt that it would not only be
useless but also unwise to speak to him about the United States
use of air bases in Siberia.
                                                       Please