811.71261/17: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Standley) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 9—10:05 a.m.]
617. Department’s 364, May 26, 8 p.m., and Embassy’s 587, June 2, 2 p.m. In reply to Embassy’s note in question Foreign Office has now replied that the Soviet Government cannot guarantee that U.S. mails will not be seized by the Japs since inspection by the Japs of Soviet ships registered under the Soviet flag before the entry of the U.S. into the war may take place.
Although I took pains to stress to Molotov the importance of maintaining satisfactory mail communications between the U.S. and the Soviet Union the tenor of the Soviet reply leads me to believe that the Soviet authorities are not interested in utilizing the Pacific route for this purpose.
I can only suggest that steps be taken to use the slower yet safer Persian Gulf route. Since the mail in question is not heavy I should think that arrangements could be made to truck the mail from Iran into the Soviet Union via Tabriz or Ashkhabad. The Department may wish to discuss with General Connolly the question of forwarding freight mail from Iranian points to Russian railheads.