893.24/1539a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in the Soviet Union ( Henderson )
622. The Office of Lend-Lease Administration desires to send Mr. Gordon Bowles to India to explore the motorable routes from India through Afghanistan and Russian Turkestan to China with a view to developing a new supply route to China.
This new all-motor route to China would supplement rather than supplant the motor-rail route via Baluchistan, Iran and Russian Turkestan which is now under joint discussion by the Soviet, Chinese and British Governments.1
It is proposed that Bowles would cross the Soviet-Afghan border in January at Termes or Kelif on the Amu Darya accompanied by an [Page 615] American mechanic traveling in a truck and a small passenger vehicle, and leave Soviet territory via Alma Ata and Kulja or Osh, Naryn and Kashgar, probably in February.
His proposed itinerary within the Soviet Union involves travel by motor from Afghan border to Tashkent. Side trips from Tashkent by rail to Ashkabad and return and to Stalinabad and return. From Tashkent by motor to Frunze and Alma Ata and the Soviet border on the Julja road or via the Ferghana to Osh and the Sinkiang border south of Naryn.
The services of chauffeurs and assistants would be necessary in Soviet territory. The request for such personnel to be made available at the point of entry will be made through the Soviet Embassy at Kabul. Permission also required to purchase necessary fuel and supplies. In order to develop information on the carrying capacity of bridges and general road conditions, permission is desired to photograph under supervision the road and road facilities along the route to be traveled.
Please request permission for Bowles and mechanic to make the desired journey for the purpose indicated and request that the necessary facilities outlined above be granted him. In making this request you should point out to the Foreign Office that the purpose of developing an all-motor route to China is to relieve the Soviet railways and that this projected route is shorter by some five hundred miles than the other route to China under discussion at this time.