861.24/909a: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union ( Standley )

220. We are particularly pleased that you found an opportunity in your talk of April 2386 to impress upon Stalin the importance ascribed by us to the early opening of the Alaskan-Siberian route. We note that Stalin finally agreed that he would look into the possibility of such a route being opened for the delivery of planes and for use as a channel of communication.

The War Department has informed us that it is anxious to obtain from the Soviet Government as soon as possible full and detailed information of a character which would assist it in making plans for the movement of all types of combat aircraft from the United States through Alaska and Eastern Siberia to the Western front or to points in Siberia. Similar information is also urgently needed which might be helpful in connection with the movement of long-range bombers across the Polar cap to the western part of the Soviet Union.

It is particularly important that this information be received as far as possible in advance of any operations which might be undertaken so that the necessary facilities could be made available and the necessary equipment and supplies could be prepared or earmarked. It is hoped, therefore, that you take advantage of every opportunity [Page 703] to impress upon the Soviet Government our views regarding the importance both to the Soviet Union and to the United States of these routes and to press it for all information which might assist us in connection with our preparations to make use of them. A situation might develop at any moment in which the use of these routes would become immediately imperative.

Hull
  1. See telegram No. 126, April 24, 2 p.m., from the Ambassador in the Soviet Union, p. 545.