-3-                             
 
      and for international management of the Persian Railway. On this 
      point we might await Russian reactions. I am by no means certain 
      that after the war, when the Black Sea ports are again open, 
      the trans-Persian route will continue to be necessary for Russian 
      trade, or indeed could be operated under such conditions as would 
    enable it to compete commercially with the Black Sea rou
 
                                                            
 
 
I quite recognize that the position of the U.K.C.C. and the 
      use of Lend-Lease supplies in Persia, to which Hurley drew your 
      attention, required some looking into. I am glad to be able to 
      say that since the date of your letter to me, the matter has 
      been discussed with your people and a mutually satisfactory arrangement 
      reached. I think they also appreciate that we have no intention 
      whatever of trying to establish a British monopoly through the 
      U.K.C.C. which is under instructions not to interfere with private 
  trade unless absolutely necessary for the purposes of the 
 
                                                            
 
 
I return General Hurley's memorandum, of which I have kept 
                             a copy.                        
 
                                                            
 
 
                      Yours sincerely,                      
 
                       Winston S. Churchill                 
 
                                                            
 
 
The President of the United States of America.