Mr. W. Averell Harriman to President Roosevelt 55
856. Reference the Prime Minister’s cable to you56 requesting that the responsibility for the development and operation of that part [Page 313] of the Persian Railroad now under British control be taken over by the United States Army and also the ports serving it.
This request has resulted from protracted discussions between us all here and expresses the considered judgment of the British Officers involved both in Iran and Cairo.
Generals Maxwell, Spalding and other United States Officers who have been studying the situation agree (a) that with proper management and personnel and with additional equipment the capacity of the railroad to Teheran can be increased to six thousand long tons a day (b) that the British have not the resources of personnel to carry out this program even if we should supply the equipment (c) that unless the United States Army undertakes the task the flow of supplies to Russia will dry up as the requirements of the British Forces in the theatre increase (d) that the importance of the development of this railroad to its maximum cannot be over-emphasized (e) that the condition in the Prime Minister’s cable of the British retaining control of traffic to be moved is reasonable, offers no practical difficulty and should be accepted.
We therefore recommend that the task be undertaken.
Although the mileage of the railroad is not great its operation presents difficult problems due to heavy grades, long tunnels and climatic conditions as well as those of a political nature in dealing with the Iranians and the Russians and the task should not be undertaken unless it is accepted as one of great importance and be given the necessary priority for both the full personnel and equipment needed.
It is therefore recommended: (a) that a top calibre railroad man with the position of operating Vice President or General Manager of a Western Railroad be drafted and commissioned in the army with rank of Brigadier General. He should be vigorous and young, not much over fifty with experience on mountain and desert operations. Ability to handle relations with different nationalities is an essential quality; (b) this man should organize a party of about twenty to twenty-five key men and proceed by air to Iran at the earliest moment possible; (c) two railroad operating and one engineer shop battalions should be despatched by sea promptly; (d) the method of gradually taking over control should be worked out on the ground with the British; (e) Colonel J. P. Johnson formerly mechanical engineer of the Sante Fe who has spent several months in the railroad and who is now with us in Cairo should be ordered to Washington at once to assist in shaping the program.
The turn around of ships in the ports referred to is deplorably slow. Three port battalions will be needed to operate efficiently all of the ports servicing the railroad. There is one port battalion now in Karachi which has not been allowed to function due to labor union [Page 314] restrictions. This battalion should be transferred to Khurramshahr promptly and the two others despatched from the United States when possible. The resulting saving of ships’ time will pay a good dividend.
The British are also asking for help with trucks and personnel to increase the road transports. Details of this request General Spalding is cabling to Somervell57 and Burns.58 I join in recommending favorable action. This is an important proposal but of second priority to the railroad and ports.
[In telegram No. 148, September 14, the British Prime Minister apprised President Roosevelt of information from Mr. Harriman that the question of the operation of the Trans-Persian Railway had been settled and requested President Roosevelt to send his final plan. The President replied the next day in telegram No. 186 that “We are prepared to take over the Persian Railway and all plans now being developed.” (Copies of telegrams No. 148 and No. 186 obtained from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, N.Y.) For the development of these plans, see Motter, The Persian Corridor and Aid to Russia, pages 191–198.]
- Copy of telegram obtained from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, N.Y.↩
- Supra.↩
- Lt. Gen. Brehon Somervell, United States member of the Munitions Assignments Board, United States–Great Britain.↩
- Maj. Gen. James H. Burns, Executive, Munitions Assignments Board, United States–Great Britain.↩