791.003/82: Telegram

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

[Paraphrase]

26. Department’s 22, March 9, 5 p.m.

(1)
The memorandum of 16 suggestions by Great Britain, which I mentioned in my 21, March 5, 11 a.m., paragraph (2), apparently is similar to the one supplied to the Department on March 6. It has been submitted by the British Minister here, I am assured, to the Persian Government.
(2)
The British Counselor tells me that originally the question of satisfactory law codes was included in the suggestions, but prior to presentation it was suppressed as not practical. He thinks his Government will not raise this question as a condition. The final sentence in the first safeguard deals with the codes.
(3)
My 18, February 21, 5 p.m. Persia seems to have abandoned its interest in replies to its request, and I hear that some Legations have now received notice from the Customs Administration that on March 21 the tariff of 1927 will go into general effect on Persia’s northern boundary. A formal reply by the Department now appears unnecessary.
(4)
The Persian Government, I am told, has stated its intention to adopt the preferential maximum-minimum tariff system, thus eliminating a necessity to embody in the treaties the most-favored-nation clause concerning tariff matters.
(5)
The Persian Government’s methods in the negotiations are being criticized by the foreign representatives, and the tone of this criticism is pessimistic and doubtful regarding a satisfactory understanding. Nevertheless, I think that a tentative expression of a willingness to negotiate is in order. This might at least insure receipt from Persian governmental sources of some information which now is not forthcoming to this Legation.
(6)
With the annual religious holiday beginning today, all Government offices are closed until March 28, except for March 17–19 inclusive.
Philip