890F.6363 Standard Oil Co./30: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Great Britain ( Atherton )
321. The California Arabian Standard Oil Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Standard Oil Company of California will shortly undertake a survey of the region comprised in its oil concession in eastern Arabia. In this connection it is planned to make considerable use of an airplane for geological reconnaisance, observation and transportation.
The plane to be used is a Fairchild, Department of Commerce No. NC–13902, powered by a Wasp engine of 420 horsepower. The crew will consist of Charles F. Rocheville, pilot, transport pilots license No. 7895, and Richard C. Kerr, student pilot. The plane will be equipped with wireless transmitting and receiving apparatus. No cameras will be carried.
It is planned to ship the plane to Alexandria, Egypt, leaving there by plane on or about February 24, following the route of the K. L. M. Royal Dutch Air Lines to Gaza, Palestine; thence over the route of the same air line to Ruthbah, Iraq; thence over the route of the Imperial Airways to Basra, Iraq; thence to Bahrein Island by way of Kuwait and the Island of Tarut. It is planned to carry on the exploration work by plane either using Bahrein as a base or from a base to be established in Saudi Arabia.
You are requested to secure the necessary Egyptian and Iraqi authorizations by telegraph through our representatives at Cairo and Baghdad. The authorizations for the remainder of the flight, with the exception of that part to be made in Saudi Arabia, it is believed, may be obtained through the British Foreign Office. It is thought that authorization covering Saudi Arabia may be obtained by you through the Arabian Minister in London.
Please inform Department by telegraph when necessary authorizations have been granted.