Memorandum from Secretary of State James Byrnes to President Harry S. Truman

DEPARTMENT OF STATE the WASHINGTON February 21, 1946 MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT Subject: Western Connection to the Alaska Highway. On October 30, 1945, you asked this Department's views on Senator Magnuson's suggestion for the construc- tion of a western connection to the Alaska Highway. Subsequently you approved the Acting Secretary's memor- andum of December 17 recommending that the other in- terested Departments be consulted prior to action with Canada. This memorandum is submitted to report develop- ments to date. The Federal Works Administrator has estimated the cost of the road at $27 to $30 million. He raises doubts as to whether sufficient justification exists for the proposed construction and recommends that thorough evaluation be made of various factors, includ- ing strategic value of the proposed road. The War and Navy Departments will shortly advise me on this factor. The former Secretary of the Interior has recommended strongly in favor of the proposed highway but assumed that the United States' share of the cost could be financed by turning over surplus United States road construction equipment now in Canada. The Office of the Foreign Liquidation Commissioner has stated that no such surplus exists. Following urgent representations from Senator Mag- nuson, the Department gladly acceded to his request that an informal approach be made to the Canadian Government for the immediate appointment of a commission composed of three Canadians and three Americans to study and recommend