TELEGRAM MOST SECRET SEPTEMBER 30, 1941 TO: AMEMBASSY MOSCOW FROM THE PRESIDENT FOR HARRIMAN REPLYING TO YOUR 1720. SUBJECT TO RESERVATIONS INHERENT IN THE STRATEGIC SITUATION THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, TANKS CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR DIVISION BETWEEN USSR AND UK AT A MONTHLY AVERAGE OF THREE TIMES THE RATE PROPOSED IN YOUR CABLE 1720 BASED ON RATE FOR JUNE IN YOUR CABLE 4459 OF SEPTEMBER 22 TO HOPKINS FOR FIRST SIX MONTHS AND FIVE TIMES FOR SECOND SIX MONTHS. YOU THEREFORE ARE INSTRUCTED TO MAKE COMMITMENT FOR A MINIMUM NUMBER OF TANKS TO THE USSR AS REQUESTED BY YOU AND ARE FURTHER AUTHORIZED TO INCREASE THE COMMITMENT AFTER C0NSULTATION WITH THE BRITISH, BEARING IN MIND THAT FIGURES I AM GIVING YOU ARE FOR TOTAL EXPORT FROM THE UNITED STATES INCLUDING BOTH BRITISH AND RUSSIANS. BASED ON SAFE RESERVATIONS AND WITHOUT COMMITMENTS AS TO TYPES TO BE ALLOCATED, YOU MAY MAKE COMMITMENTS TO PROVIDE RUSSIA WITH AIRPLANES TO A TOTAL BETWEEN JULY 1, 1942 AND JULY 1, 1943 OF NINE TIMES RATE PROPOSED FOR JULY IN CABLE 4459 OF SEPTEMBER 22 TO HOPKINS. OR ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF THE RATE PROPOSED FOR JUNE MORE OR LESS MONTHLY. ROOSEVELT |