TELEGRAM
MOST SECRET
September 17, 1941
TO: AMEMBASSY
- LONDON
- FOR THE FORMER NAVAL PERSON FROM THE PRESIDENT
- FOR YOUR CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION I HELD A
PRELIMINARY CONFERENCE ON TANK PRODUCTIOn THIS MORNING. PRESENT PRODUCTION SCHEDULE IS COMING ALONG VERY WELL AND GOES UP EACH MONTH UNTIL IT REACHES 1400 A MONTH IN MAY 1942. I AM MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO ACCELERATE THIS RATE BUT MORE IMPORTANT I AM GOING TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM WHICH I HOPE WILL DOUBLE THIS MONTHLY CAPACITY AND GET OUR FULL TANK CAPACITY UP TO A MINIMUM OF 2500 A MONTH AND A MAXIMUM OF 3000 A MONTH. AS SOON AS I CAN HOLD A FURTHER CONFERENCE WITH THE ARMY ON MONDAY OR TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK I WILL CABLE THE EXACT NUMBERS OF TANKS WHICH CAN BE EXPORTED FROM THIS COUNTY EACH MONTH BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 1, 1941 THROUGH JUNE 1942. THE NUMBER WILL BE SUBSTANTIAL AND I THINK NOT A DISCOURAGING ONE FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF OUR TWO MISSIONS GOING TO MOSCOW.
- YOU HAVE UNDOUBTEDLY BEEN ADVISED BY THE
ADMIRALITY THAT THE TRANSPORT PLAN HAS BEEN COMPLETED.
REGRADED
UNCLASSIFIED
