861.24/8–1644: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman)
2079. FEA has requested Department’s views on advisability of beginning negotiations with Soviet Government to obtain expenses of United States Army and military freight, including mail and passengers, from Tehran to Moscow on reverse lend-lease.
War states under existing arrangements they must pay In tourist $206.25 per person and 63 rials per kilo of freight or mail as well as $1.00 per ton mile from Tehran to Moscow. War has recently arranged to transport 250 Soviet personnel to the United States from Tehran at a cost of $944.04 per person which will eventually be charged to lend-lease.
In as much as arrangements for provision of services and supplies in connection with shuttle bases have been arranged under reverse lend-lease, War feels that similar reverse lend-lease should now be extended to cover transportation.
Before making any decision in the matter Dept desires your views as to advisability of taking this up with Soviet Government at present time. Of course a clear distinction will be made between expenses for operational purposes and expenses incurred solely because of representation of our interests such as air transportation of Embassy and Military Mission personnel. Similar expenses of the Soviet Embassy and Purchasing Commission here are not charged to Lend-Lease.