891.51A/398: Telegram
The Minister in Persia (Philip) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 29—10:43 a.m.]
56. Reference to your 37, August 2, 5 p.m.; Legation’s 53, August 13, noon. I have received information from Acting Foreign Minister, who has always been friendly to Financial Mission, that my note of August 11 has sharply irritated Ministry who will this week prepare a reply the tenor of which will be as follows:
- 1.
- Paragraph 1 of Legation’s note not clear.
- 2.
- Right of interference by other governments not conceded by Persian Government in its disputes with foreign officials in Persian service.
- 3.
- Persian Government had been inclined to rely upon obtaining counsel of United States Government in choosing a financial adviser and other officials. Having regard, however, to the recent communication from the American Minister the Persian Government will hereafter refrain from taking into its service any citizens of the United States.
In my communication of August 11 a part of first paragraph is in following words:
“I am instructed to solicit the attention of the Imperial Government to the situation which has arisen from the circumstances surrounding the departure from Persia of Dr. A. C. Millspaugh.”
The note continues in conformity with instruction No. 39 [bis].
I am urged by Pakrevan … to ask Department to instruct me to withdraw note or to so modify it as to anticipate Persian Government’s rejoinder as now designed which he thinks will absolutely preclude possibility of again employing Americans to administer finances, a consequence which those now in control of Government view perhaps [Page 559] with unconcern notwithstanding general favor in which Persians hold administration by Americans. The country is much disturbed and dissatisfied and, according to reports, Mullas are everywhere inciting to sedition which is not, however, specifically related to question of American advisers.
I hope to learn attitude of Department before Wednesday morning when I am again to see Pakrevan. I do not advise recall of note, but in order to prevent an incident it might be helpful to authorize me to send a note of explanation in sense of Department’s 39 [bis], paragraph 2.