Office of the Historian

791.003/31: Telegram

The Minister in Persia (Philip) to the Secretary of State

Teheran, June 22, 1927—noon.
[Received June 22—9:05 a.m.]

42. My 35, May 23, noon.

1.
A reply dated the 20th instant has been received from the Persian Government to my note of May 17th last. It expresses firstly, happiness and gratitude for the good will of the American Government respecting the decision of the Persian Government and invites attention to the following points:
(1)
The right of both parties to terminate the treaty of 1856 is not contingent on any conditions whatever and each is entitled to take such action at any time. Therefore, as stated in the previous note, the Persian Government has denounced the treaty on May 10, 1927. “It is the intention of the Persian Government in future not to grant to any government the aggregate [aggregation] of the rights and privileges known as capitulatory rights, but it is at the same time the height of its desire that, the [sic] within the one-year period in which the treaty still holds [good], an agreement be reached for a new treaty,” et cetera.
(2)
“The reform and completion of the laws and of judicial affairs of the country, which are considered to be internal affairs of the [Page 588] country, and to which the Persian Government is giving thorough consideration, will have no connection with the denouncement of former treaties and the consummation of new ones in the future.
In consideration of the foregoing points and in view of the ties of friendship and the cordial relations that have existed between the two Governments, it is sincerely hoped that, as intimated in your answering letter, the officials of Your Excellency[‘s Government will soon take action] for the consummation of a new treaty.”
[2]
The German Minister has received identical note. He contemplates informal note to the effect that the information desired by his Government is considered essential as a preliminary to negotiating a new treaty.
Philip