511.4 A 2/128
The Chargé in Persia (Murray) to the
Secretary of State
Teheran, October 5,
1924.
[Received November 6.]
No. 671
Sir: Referring to the Department’s telegram No.
83 of September 15, 5 p.m. expressing the hope of the American
Government that the Government of Persia would be represented at the
forthcoming Opium Conference at Geneva in November, the Legation’s reply
in its telegram No. 120 of September 17, 2 p.m.83 to the effect
that Mirza Eissa Khan had been instructed to proceed from London to
Geneva to represent the Persian Government at that conference, and to
the Legation’s despatch No. 652 of September 23, 1924 advising
[Page 590]
the Department of the steps
already taken by the British representative in Teheran in bringing the
question of illicit opium traffic to the attention of the Persian
Government, I have the honor to transmit herewith, for the information
of the Department, copy of a note dated September 16, 1924, which I
addressed on the subject to the Persian Government84 and
the latter’s reply dated September 80, 1924.
The Legation is meanwhile in receipt of the Department’s instruction No.
330 dated August 22, 1924 outlining fully what further steps it is
directed to take in the matter. In view of the fact, as reported to the
Department in the Legation’s despatch No. 652 dated September 23, 1924,
that the British representative made his representations on August 15,
previous of course to any of the above instructions from the Department
and, owing to the present critical situation which has arisen as a
result of the refusal of the Persian Government to proceed with the
executions of those condemned to death in connection with the Imbrie
killing, I am abstaining from further discussion of the question with
the Persian Government, which action is, I am confident, in accord with
the desires of the Department.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure—Translation]
The Persian Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Moshar-ol-Molk) to the
American Chargé (Murray)
[Teheran,] September 30,
1924/Mizan 8, 1303.
No. 11339
Mr. Chargé d’affaires: I beg to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter of September 16, 1924, No. 16, concerning
the commission that will be formed in Geneva in the month of
November in order to adopt a decision with regard to placing
restriction on the commerce and production of opium.
As you are well aware the Imperial Government of Persia has signed
the 1912 Opium Agreement of The Hague, with a reservation regarding
Chapter III, and that it has, up to the present, made every effort
to assure the success of this enterprise. You will, however, agree
with me in the fact that the particular circumstances existing in
Persia make it impossible to take final measures in this connection
without having first studied and considered those circumstances.
The Imperial Persian Government, despite its sincere desire to
restrict the production and commerce of opium, finds it,
unfortunately,
[Page 591]
impracticable suddenly to place a prohibition on it without having
taken certain particular points into consideration, such as the
substitution of other products for the production of opium, and the
adoption of an appropriate decision whereby the domestic consumption
of opium could gradually be stopped.
This view of the Persian Government has duly been stated to the
special branch of the League which is attended by the
representatives of the United States Government, and it is reported
that the American representatives have realized the difficulties
confronting the Persian Government and concur with the Persian
representatives in that, in order to bring about the complete
enforcement in Persia of the Hague Agreement, it is necessary that
practical methods of so doing should be resorted to.
I beg to reiterate the statement that my Government is exceedingly
desirous of being able, with the concurrence of your Government and
the other Governments, to remove the existing difficulties and
gradually to fulfill the provisions of The Hague Convention and the
decisions adopted by the League of Nations. Definite instructions
have been given to the Persian representatives who will attend the
commission that is to meet in Geneva in the coming month of
November, and I am hopeful that the views of the Persian Government
in the matter of the method of placing restriction on the production
and trade of opium will be accepted.
In the meantime I beg to request you to use the good offices of your
Honorable Legation in assuring your Government of the goodwill of
the Persian Government in this matter, and to request it to lend its
assistance and cooperation to the representatives of the Persian
Government in their just representations in order to find a
practical means of settling this affair.
I avail [etc.]
