TELEGRAM 183
London, October 23, 1941
IMPORTANT. SECRET. In accordance with plans for assistance to Russia it will be of the highest importance to ensure that port of Archangel is kept open throughout the winter. Soviet Government had intended to divert for this purpose two ice-breakers now in the Black Sea, but it is clear that such a plan, even if practicable, could do little owing to length of voyage to relieve situation during the coming winter, and help is now urgently required in providing ice-breakers from some other source. What are needed are ice-breakers proper i.e. vessels capable of breaking a channel through the ice for other ships and not merely vessels specially constructed and strengthened to enable them to force their way through a certain degree of ice on their own.
2. We very much hope that the Canadian Government will be able to help in this vitally important matter. Preliminary enquiries have already been made of Canadian authorities through representative of Ministry of War Transport at Montreal, and though reply to these indicates that there might be serious difficulty in sparing a suitable vessel, we understand that there is now some prospect of the ice-breaker N. B. MacLean being made available from November to April for this purpose. This vessel would be of immense value in present circumstances and it would be a great relief to us to be able to count upon her services. If there should be any chance of any other similar vessel being made available also, this would be most welcome and highly appreciated.
