032 Willkie, Wendell/44a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Standley)
406. 1. Wendell Willkie, accompanied by Joseph Barnes and Gardner Cowles, both of the Office of War Information, is proceeding immediately by air to the Middle East, Soviet Union and China on a special mission representing the President of the United States. The Soviet Government has been informed of the trip through Litvinoff.4 Mr. Willkie will carry letters addressed to Stalin and Chiang Kai-Shek5 from the President.
2. Mr. Willkie and party will make the trip in a Consolidated C–87 type United States Army transport piloted by Major Richard T. Kight accompanied by a crew of eight officers and enlisted men.
3. They are expected to reach Tehran about September 9. Please arrange with the Soviet Government to send a Soviet co-pilot, navigator and radio operator to Tehran for the purpose of accompanying Mr. Willkie to Kuibyshev and Moscow.
[Page 142]4. It is particularly desired that Mr. Willkie should proceed from the Soviet Union to Chungking without transiting India. In this connection please ascertain whether the Soviet Government is prepared to extend the required permission for such a flight through Central Asia and whether the necessary facilities for refueling en route are available.
5. The President has indicated that he desires the return flight to the United States to be made by way of Siberia and Alaska. Please endeavor therefore to make appropriate arrangements with the Soviet Government to permit the return of the aircraft and party from Chungking into Soviet territory and their transit through Siberia to Alaska.
6. The Soviet Government will undoubtedly wish to make provision for Soviet flight personnel to accompany the flight through Soviet territory. Mr. Willkie on his part has asked that the Soviet Government be informed that he wishes to put himself entirely at its disposal with respect to the routes to be followed in the course of his travel in Soviet territory.
7. Please keep the Department and Chungking fully and currently informed of all matters pertaining to Mr. Willkie’s travel to the Soviet Union and China.
Repeated to Chungking in Department’s no. 762 of August 24, 9 p.m.