Office of the Historian

791.003/117: Telegram

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

Teheran, May 10, 1928—11 a.m.
[Received 11:30 a.m.]

52. Following is translation of:

(1) Personal status assurances contained in declaration on safeguards:

“Since question of personal status may be excluded from the competence of Persian courts, the procedure in such questions will be treated in detail in the convention of establishment to be concluded between Persia and (blank).”

[Paraphrase.] The French and Germans, at least, have accepted this assurance, and, in their provisional arrangements they have even included stipulations which accord full reciprocity to Persia. [End paraphrase.]

(2) More important articles of law on personal status and family law jurisdiction, voted May 8, translate as follows:

  • “Article 5. All the inhabitants of Persia, whether native or foreign subjects, shall be subject to the laws of Persia, except in cases exempted by law.
  • “Article 6. The laws concerning personal status, such as marriage, divorce, and capacity of persons and inheritance, shall be enforced in the case of all the subjects of Persia even if resident abroad.
  • “Article 7. Foreign nationals residing in Persian territory shall within the limits of treaties be subject to the laws and regulations of their own governments in matters connected with their personal status and capacity and also rights of inheritance.”

(3) [Paraphrase.] The term “favored-nation treatment” appears specifically with respect to tariff treatment in a corrected copy of the Persian Government’s proposals as delivered last evening to me. [End paraphrase.]

Philip