TELEGRAN
                                        June 23, 1942
 
TO, MR. STALIN
 
FROM: PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
 
 
SUPPLEMENTING MY RADIOGRAM TO YOU OF JUNE SEVENTEENTH IT IS DESIRED
TO EMPHASIZE THE GREAT SAVINGS IN TIME THAT WOULD BE EFFECTED IN THE
DELIVERY OF AIRCRAfT TO THE SOVIET UNION IF DELIVERIES COULD BE
ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH ALASKA AND SIBERIA INSTEAD OF THROUGH ARFICA
AS WE ARE NOW DOING.     ALSO A FERRY ROUTE THROUGH SIBERIA
WOULD PERMIT THE FERRYING OF SHORT RANGE AIRCRAFT WHICH ARE NOW
BEING SHIPPED BY WATER.     I AM PREPARED TO HAVE OUR FERRYING CREWS
DELIVER AIRPLANES TO YOU AT LAKE BAIKAL PROVIDED LANDING FIELDS,
'WEATHER AND NAVIGATIONAL FACILITIES CAN BE ESTABLISHED TO CONNECT
WITH OUR OWN AIRWAYS AT NOME.     SUCH AN AIRWAYS IN SIBERIA
COULD ALSO BE EASILY CONNECTED WITH LANDING FIELDS LEADING INTO THE
VLADIVOSTOK AREA.     THIS WOULD ENABLE US TO RAPIDLY MOVE OUR AIR
UNITS INTO THAT AREA TO ASSIST YOU IN THE EVENT THE  JAPANESE SHOULD
INITIATE OPERATION AGAINST YOUR MARITIME PROVINCES.     AS A RESULT OF
MY STUDY OF THE PROBLEM OF ESTABLISHING AN AIR ROUTE
THROUGH SIBERIA TO LAKE BAIKAL IT IS EVIDENT THAT BULK SUPPLIES, SUCH
AS GASOLINE AND MACHINERY TO DEVELOP LANDING FIELDS WOULD HAVE TO
BE MOVED INTO EASTERN SIBERIA VIA WATER OVER CERTAIN RIVERS
EMPTYING INTO THE ARCTIC OCEAN.     THIS WATER MOVEMENT
WOULD HAVE TO BE ACCOMPLISHED WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WHILE
THESE RIVERS ARE ICE FREE.     THE NECESSITY FOR INITIATING ACTION AT AN
EARLY DATE HAS DICTATED MY COMPLICATING WITH YOU BEFORE RECEIVING
AN ANSWER TO MY RADIOGRAM OF JUNE SEVENTEENTH. TO EXPEDITE THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THIS AIR ROUTE, IF YOU AGREE WITH ITS IMPORTANCE AND
URGENCY, IT IS REQUESTED THAT YOU AUTHORIZE A SURVEY AND
EXPLORATORY FLIGHT OF ONE OF MY AIRPLANES FROM ALASKA OVER THE
PROPOSED ROUTE TO DETERMINE THE SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT NECESSARY
IN THE CONSTRUCTING 0F THE ESSENTIAL LANDING FIELDS AND
NAVIGATIONAL AIDS.      THE PERSONNEL MAKING SUCH FLIGHT WOULD WEAR
CIVILIAN CLOTHES AND TAKE ALL NECESSARY ACTION TO INSURE THAT THEY
WOULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED IN ANY RESPECT WITH THE MILITARY SERVICE.     
THEY WOULD, IN FACT, MAKE THE FLIGHT AS