Evening star., 1941-08-05
Texts
US. Pledge Of Aid Against Axis
Draws Soviet's Gratitude

By the Associated Press.
The tert OF the notes exchanged
betWeen Acting Secretary OF
State WelIes and Constantine A.
Oumansky, Russian Ambassador,
tollotD:
August 2, 1S4l.
His Excellency
Constantine A. Oumansky,
Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the Union Of
Soviet Socialist Republics.
MY dear Mr.. Ambassador:
I am pleased to inform you that
the Government of the United
States has decided to give all
economic assistance practicable for
the purpose of strengthening the
Soviet Union in its struggle against
armed aggression. This decision
has been prompted by the convic-
ton of the Government of the
United States that the strengthen
ing of the armed resistance of the
Soviet Union to the predatory at
tack of an aggressor who is threat
ening the security and independence
not only of the Soviet Union but
also of all other nations is in the
interest of the national defense of
the United States.
Priorities Granted.
In accordance with this decision
of the Government of the United
States and in order to implement
the policy enunciated above, the
Government of the United States is
giving the most friendly considera-
ton to requests from the govern
ment, institutions. or agencies of the
Soviet Union relative to the placing
in this country of orders for articles
and materials urgently required for
the needs of the national defense
of the Soviet Union and, for the
purpose Of promoting the speedy
completion and delivery of such
articles and materials, is extending
to these orders priority assistance
upon the principles applicable to
the orders of countries struggling
against aggression.
In order to facilitate the exten-
sion of economic assistance to the
Soviet Union, the Department of
State is also issuing unlimited
licenses permitting the export to
the Soviet Union of a wide variety
of articles and materials needed for
the strengthening of the defense of
that country, in accordance with
the principles applicable to the fur
nishing of such articles and mate
rials as are needed for the same pur-
pose by other countries resisting ag-
gression.
Ships May Be Provided.
The appropriate authorities of the
Government of the United States,
in pursuance of the decision to
which I have above referred, are
also giving their favorable consid-
Grafton to requests for the extension
of available American shipping
facilities for the purpose Of expedit-
ing the shipment to the Soviet
Union of articles and materials
needed for the national defense of
that country.
I am, my dear Mr.. Oumansky,
Very sincerely yours,
(Signed) SUMNER WELLES,
Acting Secretary.
The Hon. Sumner Wells,
Acting Secretary of State.
My Dear Mr.. Acting Secretary:
I am pleased to take notice of the
contents of your communication of
this date in which you informed
me that the Government of the
United States has decided to give
all economic assistance practicable
for the purpose of strengthening the
Soviet Union in its struggle against
armed aggression. You add that
this decision has been prompted by
the conviction of the Government
of the United States that the
strengthening of the armed resist
ance of the Soviet Union to the
predatory attack of an aggressor
who is threatening the security and
independence not only of the Soviet
Union but also of all other nations
is In the interest of the national de-
fense of the United States.
Gratitude Expressed.
On behalf of my government, I
wish to emphasize the correctness of
the view that the aggressor who. has
treacherously invaded my country is
threatening the security and inde-
pendence of all freedom loving ma
tions and that this threat naturally
creates a community of interest of
national defense of those nations.
My government has directed me to
express to the Government of the
United States its gratitude for the
friendly decision of the Government
of the United States and its conf
dence that the economic assistance
you refer to in your note will be of
such scope and carried out with such
expedition as to correspond to the
magnitude of the military operations
in which the Soviet Union Is en-
gaging, in Offering armed resistance
to the aggressor-a resistance which,
as you so justly observed. is also in
the interest of the national defense
Of the United States.
I am also pleased to note your
statement that:
I'm accordance with this decision
of the Government of the United
States and in order to implement
the policy enunciated above, the
Government Of the United States Is