129. Letter From President Johnson to the Shah of Iran1
Your Imperial Majesty:
Iran’s signal progress in education and literacy, in health, in social and economic development, and in agriculture, recounted in your letter of March 25, is most impressive. I sense your pride and I share your pleasure in these accomplishments.
I fully understand the importance that you attach to making the necessary defense decisions that will protect and promote Iran’s security and progress. To that end my government is earnestly making a careful examination of the defense and security situation as it affects us both—what Iran’s needs are and how the United States can help to meet them. The report of the military survey team is now under review by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Department of Defense. One purpose of this review, the necessity for which I am sure Your Majesty can appreciate, is to determine the most favorable prices that can be offered for the equipment recommended by the military survey team. Once this is completed, the report will be forwarded to you to permit thorough study by your government before the Annual Review.
[Page 230]Ambassador Meyer has informed me that he expects to receive soon from your government the economic data needed for the Annual Review. Once both military and economic data are in hand and have been analyzed, I believe our two governments should be able to reach a prompt conclusion as to our future military cooperation.
Let me assure you, Your Majesty, that the United States Government wishes to promote the dual objectives of economic advance and national security which you have outlined so effectively in your letter. And we mean to do this as expeditiously as possible.
Sincerely,
- Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Special Head of State Correspondence File, Iran—Shah Correspondence, Volume II. No classification marking.↩