Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1943, The British Commonwealth, Eastern Europe, the Far East, Volume III

811.79661/80: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Standley) to the Secretary of State

Moscow, July 30, 1943—8 p.m.
[Received July 31—9:25 p.m.]

980. Department’s 490, June 28, 9 p.m., last sentence in regard to Alsib route.

1. I should appreciate being informed of present status of this matter.

2. As of interest in consideration which the appropriate agencies of the American Government are giving to this matter, the information given me by pilots who flew my plane to Moscow over Alsib route¹⁸ is that the air fields on this route are in general good for maintaining regular scheduled service. Also use of planes with a flying radius of 2,000 or more miles would be helpful. The installation of radio aids would facilitate flying. The air fields are at present spaced that no leg of the route for the existing Russian Ferry Service is longer than 800 miles. At some points the only facilities for passengers are those provided at air fields for Russian pilots. All such facilities are in some respects primitive but tolerable and could be improved with little expense.

3. I hope consideration of matter by our Government may be expedited and that American Government may soon be in position to formulate concrete proposal for presentation thereof to Soviet Government at early date. I can not too much stress importance which I attach to improving means of communication between the United States and Russia.

Standley

18. The airplane for the personal use of the Ambassador arrived in Moscow on July 22.