861.24/1033: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Standley) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:19 p.m.]
297. Spalding to Burns. At a meeting with Mikoyan, he expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of northern convoys and felt that much more could be done to safe-guard their arrival. While stressing the necessity of increased supply from the north, he urged the full development of Persian Gulf routes. He stated that given about 4 months to develop port, road and sail [rail?] facilities, 150,000 to 200,000 tons per month could be brought in over this route. It is my belief that this quantity can be forwarded provided increased British military requirements do not interfere. A recommended monthly tonnage schedule and program of development of route should be agreed upon at a meeting to be held in Tehran or Cairo in the near future at which I will be present. Proposed increase by British military requirements may interfere seriously in the quantity that can be forwarded. Mikoyan has learned that only four ships have been allocated for the Persian Gulf. This is a serious reduction. Request verification to Faymonville and repeat to me at Tehran. Mikoyan also would like to have assembled at Karachi and used on the Meshed route 1,000 United States trucks provided my recent recommendation for 3,500 cargo trucks for Shingler19 is approved.
It is requested that this possibility be investigated by Washington. It is my recommendation that his request be met if practicable. Mikoyan desires in general to use the Persian Gulf routes to supply the military needs of the Caucasus including food for the army, and to ship raw materials to the Urals. He also pointed out that material could also be shipped via the Caspian to Astrakhan and by rail through Baku and over new railroad now operating from Makhach Kala to Astrakhan. He made no reservation as to any possible interruption of these routes. In the future it is planned by the Soviets to use Persian Gulf ports exclusively for shipments from the United States with the single exception of 2,500 tons of rubber per’ month from Ceylon. Imports of jute and sisal will be suspended and such items as tea, sugar and shellac will be imported over the Meshed route. [Spalding.]
- Col. Don Gilmore Shingler, Chief of Staff, United States Military Mission to Iran and Iraq, 1941–42; Chief, Iranian Mission (Basra, Iraq), 1942.↩