Office of the Historian

761.91/12–844

The Secretary of State to the President

secret
[Washington,] December 18, 1944.

Memorandum for the President

Subject: Soviet-Iranian Relations

Your memorandum of December 8, 1944 suggested that Harriman take up with Stalin the question of difficulties between the Soviet Union and Iran. Fortunately, a telegram from Ambassador Morris in Teheran dated December 8,1 reports that since the Iranian Government resigned last month, Morris has heard of no action by the Russians which could clearly be construed as further undue interference in internal Iranian affairs.

An approach by us to the Russians at this moment might aggravate the situation, causing the Russians to flare up with a harder policy against Iran than ever. I believe it would be a mistake for Harriman to approach Stalin at the moment, as long as there is a possibility that the tension in Iran is easing. We are following the developments minutely, and are keeping Harriman posted. If you concur, we will instruct him to stand by, to be ready to act when the proper moment comes.

I should like to talk with you about the free port-railway trusteeship plan at one of our early meetings.2

Edward R. Stettinius, Jr.
  1. Not printed.↩
  2. As a result of the Department’s objections (see post, pp. 344–345), the President was dissuaded from reviving his pian and the subject was not discussed with the British or the Russians at Malta or Yalta.↩