611.9131/10: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Persia ( Philip )
13. Referring to your 18, February 21, 5 p.m. The Department is not clear concerning the reasons for the Persian Government’s proposal and wishes you to cable more precisely an expression of your views in this regard.
If and when Persian officials question you on the subject, you should reply orally that the Department is examining the Persian Government’s proposal that the Perso-Soviet tariff be applied to American imports, but that, owing to the necessity of consultation with other Government departments interested, a certain delay is inevitable in formulating a reply.
You should telegraph full information to the Department of any action which other foreign governments may take. In conversing with your British colleague in accordance with the Department’s instructions (see telegram 12, February 28), you should try to determine his views regarding the Persian Government’s present proposal, as well as the status at present of tariff negotiations between Great Britain and Persia.
Regarding paragraph (3) of your 18, February 21, 5 p.m. The Department is presuming that Persia’s proposal was not made to Great Britain in view of the previously defined British position (as set forth in your mail despatch No. 518, January 12, under section (5) thereof13).
- Not printed.↩