811.79661/10–2345: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 23—12:30 p.m.]
3639. Deptel 2200, October 22, 1 p.m. We are still negotiating with the Soviet FonOff and Civil Aviation authorities for an airline connection, Moscow–Washington, at Berlin. Service at present not formalized. Soviets are, however, carrying our passengers to and from Berlin. Soviet FonOff has recently proposed a definite connection once a week which we assume to be in addition to current service, but this has not been confirmed. I am despatching airgram77 giving details of negotiations.
I believe it is desirable to grant Soviets permission to continue to proceed to the United States via Alaska for the present at least while our air service is filled westbound with returning soldiers. I suggest that this permission, however, should be on a month to month basis as we may have to put pressure on the Soviets to give us adequate service to Berlin. I recommend also that we insist that a certain number of American travellers be permitted to go in both directions over this route. It will be particularly useful for Americans returning from Moscow during the present emergency period. In addition it is an interesting and useful experience.
It is still my hope that in connection with the Lend-Lease termination agreement we can obtain permission for American planes to enter Moscow on a regular service.
No long term concession should be made to the Russians until this question is settled.
- A–313, October 29, not printed.↩