811.79661/80: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Standley)
648. Your 980, July 30, 8 p.m. As stated in the last paragraph of Department’s 490 of June 28, the matter of the Alsib route was referred to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Department is now in receipt of a letter from the Joint Chiefs of Staff dated July 31, which represents the combined views of the War and Navy Departments and in which the Department is in full accord. A paraphrase of the pertinent parts of the letter under reference follows:
Begin paraphrase:
From a military point of view the Joint Chiefs of Staff consider that there would be a distinct advantage in consummating an agreement whereby American air transport operations would be permitted, at least on the basis of one round trip per week between Seattle or Fairbanks and Moscow via the Alsib route. Our military authorities are prepared to operate such a service now.
In the event that the Department of State finds it necessary or desirable to offer the Soviet Union reciprocal privileges, the Joint Chiefs of Staff perceive no military objection to having the Soviets improve their existing air transport services to Fairbanks, or in extending it to Seattle over a route to the west of all Canadian territory. As to trip frequencies, the schedules of the two services should be balanced and technical details should be subject to mutually satisfactory arrangements between the services performing the operations.
[Page 682]In the event that the Soviet Government is not willing to allow American military planes to operate as far as Moscow, then it is suggested that an agreement be reached if possible whereby our planes be permitted to operate at least as far as Chita or Irkutsk. End paraphrase.
You are instructed to begin negotiations with the Soviet Government on the basis of the foregoing, but without any reference to the Chiefs of Staff. You should transmit the proposal in a formal written communication and telegraph Soviet reply in full. Reference second paragraph of quotation, and in view of previous Soviet attitude regarding reciprocity, there is no objection to offering the Soviets reciprocal privileges along the line approved by the Chiefs of Staff. Naturally, the matter contained in last quoted paragraph should be reserved for possible future communication.
The Department shares your views on the importance of improving communications between the United States and Russia. While the present proposal looks to the establishment of a military service only, it should be borne in mind that it is a first, but important, step to the establishment of regular commercial services between the two countries after the war.