890H.64A/28a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Afghanistan (Engert)
119. Efforts to procure engineers continue to be unsuccessful. Of the two candidates for position of Chief Engineer mentioned in Department’s telegram no. 107, November 15, one was found not to be qualified and the other decided to accept another position. The two structural engineers with whom the Afghan Legation is in communication as mentioned also in the telegram under reference have indicated their readiness to accept the positions if certain clauses in the contract can be changed. The Minister has expressed to the Department his readiness to make such changes as the laws of Afghanistan permit and the matter is being discussed at length with him in the next few days. Of the 7 possible surveyors mentioned, only 1 is willing to accept the position. Several other persons have recently indicated an interest in the surveying positions and their qualifications are being investigated. Correspondence with additional persons believed to be highly qualified for the position of Chief Engineer is continuing, but without definite development at the moment.
Mr. John L. Savage, Chief Designing Engineer of the United States Bureau of Reclamation, is proceeding shortly to the Punjab and to China at the invitation of those Governments. It would be possible for him to make a short visit not exceeding 2 or 3 weeks to Afghanistan for consultation with the Ministry of Public Works after the completion of his duties in the Punjab, probably during March. If the Legation considers that such a visit would serve any useful purpose, the Department can arrange for the visit without expense to the Afghan Government. It is thought that his visit might convince the Afghans of the interest of this Government in their problems and that Mr. Savage might provide helpful advice as to the best manner in which Afghan engineering needs can be met. He is considered one of America’s leading irrigation engineers. His major projects include Boulder, Grand Coulee, Shasta and Imperial dams as well as projects for the U. S. S. E., Puerto Rico, and Santo Domingo. He has also held the position of Vice President of the International Commission on Large Dams of the World Power Conference.
It is expected that he will depart from the United States within the next three weeks. Telegraphic advice regarding the Legation’s opinion as to the desirability of his proposed visit is requested.85
- In telegram No. 243, December 19, 1943, the Minister in Afghanistan replied that the Afghan Government was delighted to extend an invitation to Mr. Savage (890H.64A/29). Arrangements completed by the Department resulted in a week’s visit by Mr. Savage to Afghanistan during the period April 22 to April 29, 1944.↩