891.51A/45
The British Embassy to
the Department of State4
undated
Aide-Mémoire
With reference to the conversation between the Secretary of State and His
Britannic Majesty’s Ambassador on February 11th last, the
[Page 524]
attached printed memorandum is
communicated in order to make clear the views of His Majesty’s
Government on the present situation in Persia and the question of the
appointment of American advisers for that country.
It will be noticed that, in referring to the Anglo Persian Oil Company’s
concessions, the Khostaria concession which is claimed by that Company
is left out of account.5
[Enclosure—Extract]
The British Foreign
Office to the Department of
State
Memorandum
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 1.
- The British Government are mainly concerned in the maintenance
of Persia’s independence and integrity, and are prepared to
co-operate in any well-planned efforts to sustain and revive her
national existence.
- 2.
- The development of Persian resources and the revival of
Persian trade by any legitimate means are equally an object of
interest to Great Britain.
- 3.
- His Majesty’s Government have paramount interests in Southern
Persia and the Persian Gulf which impel them, to take a special
interest in those regions.
- 4.
- His Majesty’s Treasury cannot lose sight of the indebtedness
of Persia to Great Britain, and must look to the regular payment
of interest and sinking fund on these debts out of Persia’s
available resources, some of which are already pledged to
her.
- 5.
- His Majesty’s Government, having tried unsuccessfully to
assist Persia to improve her internal administration and to
introduce sound financial methods, are prepared to extend a
loyal assistance to the United States Government if the latter
decide, after full consideration, to undertake the task. The
question by whom Persia is to be regenerated is of vastly less
importance than that her regeneration should take place. A
better chance of effecting this end can hardly be imagined than
that a great and friendly and disinterested Power like the
United States should be willing to enter the field. Some things
the United States Government will do best by itself. In
[Page 525]
others it may profit
by the co-operation and support of those who have been so long
on the ground. From this point of view His Majesty’s Government
will give to any American officials who may be chosen by the
United States Government their fullest diplomatic support at
Tehran in the hope that by the united action of the British and
United States Governments and by the frankest exchange of views
between them a real improvement in Persia’s internal
administration may result.
- 6.
- As regards foreign commercial enterprise in Persia, His
Majesty’s Government adhere without qualification to the
principle of the “open door.”
- His Majesty’s Government have placed on record the above
considerations, and now submit them to the United States
Government in the assured conviction that Persia affords a field
where the two great English-speaking nations may, by working
together, bring about results that will enure both to the
advantage of the Persian people and to the peace and prosperity
of the Eastern world.
C[urzon] of K[edleston]
[London,] March 1,
1922.
