861.248/231: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Standley) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 23—10:35 a.m.]
323. My 290, August 10, 9 p.m.20
1. A representative of the Foreign Office telephoned the Embassy on August 19 and stated that the Soviet Government desired to send to Alaska on August 20 and 21 eighty Soviet airmen to ferry aircraft to the Soviet Union and requested that arrangements be made so that those men would be permitted to enter United States territory without American visas.21 He stated that General Bradley had suggested the immediate dispatch of the airmen in question.
In view of the urgency of the request the Embassy stated that it would endeavor to arrange with the Department for the waiving of the visa requirements on condition that the Foreign Office send a note advising the Embassy of the names of the airmen. This note was received on August 20. Unless instructed to do so, the Embassy will not transmit the names to the Department. It is hoped, however, that the Department will make the necessary arrangements for the airmen to enter Alaska.
2. As the Department is aware, negotiations are now in progress in Moscow with regard to the ferrying of aircraft from Alaska to the Soviet Union and I am informed by General Bradley that it is likely that the Soviet Government will soon be sending to Alaska over 300 Soviet airmen a month for this purpose. Since undue complications and serious delays in our planned aircraft delivery schedules are sure to arise if the Embassy adheres to the standing visa regulations insofar as these ferry crews are concerned, I strongly recommend that members of Soviet armed forces proceeding to United States territory in uniform for the purpose of taking over aircraft be considered as Allied forces proceeding to zones of military operations [Page 721] and as such be permitted to enter and leave military zones in, United States territory without American visas but in accordance with such regulations as the American military authorities may prescribe.
General Bradley has suggested to the Soviet Government that a Soviet Military Mission be established in Alaska to supervise and coordinate Soviet activities there. Among its functions the Mission would be responsible for the identity, movements and activities of Soviet ferry crews and it would keep the American authorities advised in this respect.
It is suggested that the Department discuss the question of the entrance of Soviet ferry crews into American territory with the appropriate agencies of the Government and issue instructions in regard, to the visa policy to be followed in this respect.22
- Not printed.↩
- For correspondence concerning the desirability of the delivery of American airplanes to the Soviet Union over a new route through Alaska and Siberia, see pp. 597–662, passim. ↩
- The Ambassador in the Soviet Union advised in his telegram No. 712, August 25, that the Commissariat for Foreign Trade was sending 21 technical personnel by airplane, to arrive In Fairbanks, Alaska, early in September. These individuals, not in possession of American visas, were to be in the nature of a permanent staff to take delivery of aircraft, and, permission for their entry into United States territory for this purpose was requested. In Department’s telegram No. 514, October 15, permission was granted in general for entry and departure for this purpose to Soviet personnel without passports and visas, but only in Alaska. (861.248/235)↩