811.42790H/60: Airgram
The Minister in Afghanistan (Engert) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 9—12 noon.]
A–8. Reference is made to my telegram No. 74, September 15, 10 p.m.,68 concerning Japanese activities in Afghanistan, and my telegram No. 58, March 17, 10 a.m.
1. An official of the Afghan Government has stated in strictest confidence and unofficially to the Secretary of the Legation that if [Page 55] one or more competent American irrigation engineers and surveyors could be obtained immediately from America, he could perhaps arrange for the removal of the four Japanese engineers now employed by the Ministry of Public Works. The official stated that the Afghan Government desired an irrigation specialist, preferably from the Denver office of the Reclamation Service, with the qualifications of men like Houk, Vetter or Waldorf, who might get a 4 or 5 year contract at about $8,000 per annum. He would be chief consulting engineer for all irrigation projects in Afghanistan. The Ministry also desires four competent surveyors and two designing engineers for reenforced concrete and steel waterworks such as siphons, chutes, and drops. These would receive about $4,000 per annum.
It is suggested that the possibility of obtaining these persons be investigated. If it is possible to find such personnel at this time the Legation could then endeavor to obtain an official confirmation of the request and might be able to induce the Ministry of Public Works to dismiss the Japanese altogether.
2. The same official stated that one of the most immediate projects of the Afghan Government was an aerial survey of the entire country. Considerable aerial photographic equipment has been purchased from the Swiss firm of Wild, but no proper airplane is available to the Ministry. The official expressed the opinion that if an experienced American aerial surveyor and the rest of the necessary equipment, including a plane, were furnished, the Afghan Government would sign a contract for the immediate commencement of the work. While I doubt whether the Afghan Government would begin the survey before the end of the war, such a survey (if undertaken) might be of considerable value to ourselves and our Allies. The Department may therefore desire to discuss the matter with the proper American authorities and inform the Legation whether the expert and the plane could be supplied.
- Not printed.↩