811.79600/10–1945: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2:05 p.m.]
3601. ReDeptel 2164, October 15.72 1. Dept is aware of intransigent policy of Soviet Govt not to permit foreign aircraft to enter Soviet Union except under unusual circumstances and to limit as greatly as possible foreign air traffic into or over Soviet controlled countries or areas. With respect to Finland I feel it is therefore likely that Soviet authorities will endeavor to block United States air service thereto. I believe that Soviet Govt will endeavor to establish purely Soviet or Soviet controlled airline from Helsinki to Stockholm connecting with Soviet airline Moscow to Helsinki. Nonetheless it is my opinion we should endeavor to obtain clearance for entry into Finland for United States air service from Finnish authorities particularly as Soviet Govt has been more “correct” in Finland than in other controlled countries and that we should approach the Russians on this question only if negotiations should break down and if it becomes clear that Russian pressure has brought about Finnish refusal to permit United States entry.
2. I favor Dept’s proposal to link up question of commercial air rights in Soviet territory as well as unsettled economic questions with Export-Import Bank credits provided Dept is prepared to take a strong stand on this question. Soviets will maintain that question of airlines and at least some of other unsettled economic matters are unrelated to credits and will bring all possible pressure at their disposal, public and otherwise, to bear in order to break down Dept’s position.
I feel Dept should in any event raise questions of airlines and other unsettled economic matters in any discussions it might have with Russians on Article VII of 1942 Lend-Lease agreement73 relative to final [Page 899] determination of benefits provided United States by Soviet Govt in return for Lend-Lease assistance.
3. In view of attitude Soviet Govt has taken re entry of United States planes into Soviet Union, I recommend that we cease permitting Soviet planes to enter Alaska without obtaining prior authorization. I recommend further that I be instructed to advise Soviet Foreign Office at my discretion in connecting service at Berlin that Soviet planes which were permitted freely to fly into Alaska in connection with Lend-Lease will no longer be permitted to land at Fairbanks without obtaining prior clearance from appropriate American authorities.