811.7461/31: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union ( Harriman ) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 28—12:30 p.m.]
1061. The substance of the Department’s 384, February 23, 1 p.m., was communicated to the Foreign Office which in a reply dated March 21 states as follows:
“The People’s Commissariat for Communications is continuing to take practical steps in the direction of improving radio communications between the Soviet Union and the United States. In particular, efforts are being made to increase the selectivity and sensitivity of radio receiving installations and to protect the principal radio circuits from interference by other radio stations.
“The Soviet Government considers the proposal of the United States Government to organize communications in other paths in case radio waves on the direct Moscow–New York circuit encounter unfavorable conditions acceptable and further considers that it is desirable to select the circuitous path through Cairo or Algiers.
“There might also be recommended a circuitous path through the south of the Soviet Union. In this case Tiflis would be the most advantageous point for the relaying of communications. It would be necessary for this [apparent garble] however immediately to import two 50 kilowatt radio transmitters and 10 complete special radio receivers with high selectivity (Russian text S. Uzkoi Polosoi Propuskaniya Chastot) from the United States.”
Please keep me informed of any further developments and let me know of any additional steps I should take here.