243. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson1
SUBJECT
- Message to the Shah
Governor Harriman will stop off to see the Shah in connection with his visit to Pakistan to help dedicate the Mangla Dam. Since there has been a minor misunderstanding with the Shah over the proposal for talks on Vietnam he mentioned during his visit here, we felt it would be useful to make a special point of the fact that Governor Harriman is coming on your behalf. While we don’t think his idea is a starter, we don’t [Page 439] want to be the ones to kill it; he might as well find out for himself how tough this game is.
The following message should serve that purpose:
Your Imperial Majesty:
I am very pleased that you are able to receive Governor Harriman in Tehran on November 22. His visit will come just three months after our pleasant and useful talks here, and I look forward to hearing his report when he returns. I have asked the Governor to inform you fully of our views and the present possibilities for bringing about a peaceful solution in Vietnam. Once again, I want you to know how much we value your constructive position on this as on so many other international problems.
Sincerely,
Approve2
Disapprove
- Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Special Head of State Correspondence File, 9/1/67–12/31/67. Secret; Exdis.↩
- This option is checked. Telegram 70589 to Tehran, November 17, transmitted the message to the Embassy for delivery to the Shah. (Department of State, Central Files, POL 7 US/HARRIMAN)↩