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CONFIDENTIAL PARAPHRASE   
COPY FOR MR. SATTERTHWAITE
Rec'd: Aug. 23, 1945. 
                                                        4954
(FROM THE DEPARTMENT)
AMEMBASSY
LONDON
7158, AUGUST 22, 9 p.m.

   Confidential information on Spanish dollar balance indicates this not sufficient reason for delay (FOR STANTON FROM SOMMERS CAA) in purchase of construction equipment and radio aids. For the purchase of construction machinery only 350,000 of the total of 650,000 necessary has been made available. Concrete paving equipment which will be needed soon not included in items to be shipped. Understand equipment enroute to port of embarkation. To go to Spain sometime in September for a month as consultant, Spanish Embassy has made Smith proposition. It is recommended that you suggest to Vives that airport construction engineer be employed on the same basis who can analyze their needs. If airports large enough to accommodate RC-54s are available, it is expected that operations can start shortly after first of year. Would recommend immediate construction at - first, Madrid, Barcelona second, Valencia third, Seville fourth. By time operations begin, if only Madrid ready, this can be used as distribution point to Valencia and Barcelona through Iberia Airlines until these airports ready to receive C-54s. If necessary, entry to continent can be made through Foynes and TWA willing to use this route to Madrid. Use of DC-3s, as we discussed, from Foynes
                                                             /objected