811.79661/73: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Standley) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:45 p.m.]
648. My 149, February 11, 6 p.m.,77 and 588, June 2, 3 p.m.
1. In view of the unusually favorable climatic conditions particularly for year round service, the availability of accommodations throughout the route and the ease for the Soviet Government to connect up with the Air Transport Command Service at Tehran I recommend that immediate steps be taken to come to a formal written understanding with the Soviet Government with respect to the establishment of a Moscow-Washington air service with definite scheduled flights.
With this in mind I wish to offer the following proposals.
- A.
- Both Governments agree to establish and maintain a scheduled bi-monthly service, the Moscow–Tehran section of which is to be operated by the Soviet Government and the Tehran–Washington section by the American Government.
- B.
- 75% of the passenger and cargo capacity of the bi-monthly planes used on the Soviet section of this service to be reserved for the official use of the American Government.
- C.
- 15% of the passenger and cargo capacity of the bi-monthly planes used on the American section of the service to be reserved for the official use of the Soviet Government.
- D.
- Either contracting party shall release to the other unwanted cargo or passenger space for any one trip. Release of such space does not obligate the other contracting party to release similar space for any subsequent trip.
- E.
- Conditions permitting, planes will depart on schedule every 2 weeks from each terminal point and each of the contracting parties agree[s] to use every effort to maintain this service regularly and on time schedule.
- F.
- The American Government agrees to put at the disposal of the Soviet Government for the duration of the war two Douglas transport planes (C–47 type) for use on the Soviet section.
- G.
- This agreement will continue in force until a date to be agreed upon by the two Governments.
In view of the time element the dependency on a third or fourth power for terminal facilities at Tehran, the possibility of complication and conflicts which might arise with the British out of flying over British territory, I feel that this service should be limited to the duration of the war.
[Page 667]2. The advantages of the Alsib route as a means of regular communication between the United States and the Soviet Union over the African route are evident. The Soviets are increasingly utilizing this route for their own officials traveling between the two countries. In view of the post-war possibilities of this route and particularly the fact that it does not traverse foreign territory I strongly recommend that as a means of improving and increasing the communications between the two countries a proposal be made to the Soviet Government that a formal agreement establishing a scheduled service on this route be entered into. This agreement might follow the considerations set forth above in paragraphs A–E with the exception that the reservation for passenger and cargo capacity be made at 50% for each of the contracting parties. We might also consider the advisability of placing at the disposal of the Russians several transport planes for use on the Soviet section.
3. I would appreciate receiving the Department’s views on this question.
- Not printed.↩