811.42790H/56: Telegram

The Minister in Afghanistan (Engert) to the Secretary of State

94. Personal for Under Secretary Welles. I hesitate very much to give my blessing to arrangement suggested in last sentence of Department’s [Page 59] 54, April 29, 10 p.m. As these teachers and engineers will presumably remain here for several years it is almost certain that receipt of supplementary payments would leak out. Consequences would be disastrous not only to individuals concerned but to our relations with Afghanistan. Our exceptional standing in the country is due precisely to belief in disinterestedness of our motives and would be irretrievably destroyed if Afghan Government suspected American experts to be agents in disguise.

If absolutely impossible to find personnel at salaries Afghans can afford I suggest candidates be first made federal employees under e. g. Commissioner of Education or Department of Agriculture at nominal salaries representing supplements it is desired to give them. Afghan Government would consider it quite normal for such persons on being loaned to Afghanistan to continue to receive portion of salaries from U. S. Government towards maintenance of dependents at home, etc. This arrangement would of course have to continue for duration of contract and not only duration of war.

Engert