791.003/118: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Persia (Philip)
40. Referring to your 53, May 10, 3 p.m.; 52, May 10, 11 a.m.; and 50, May 8, 3 p.m.42
You may suggest to Teimourtache the following provision concerning personal status and family law jurisdiction, to be included in the exchange of notes between you and the Persian Government:
Use the same wording as in the first paragraph of article VIII of the Treaty with Turkey, August 6, 1923, up to and including the word “thereof” and then use the following: “the nationals of the United States in Persia and the nationals of Persia in the United States shall enjoy unconditionally a treatment in no respect less favorable than that enjoyed or to be enjoyed by any other foreigners.”43
[Page 719]If Teimourtache accepts the above provision, you are authorized to sign and exchange notes. The French language may be used, if you so desire.
Should serious objection be made to the provision proposed above on personal status and family law jurisdiction, and if you see a danger of Persia seeking to apply its maximum tariff after May 11 to American merchandise unless an agreement on that day is signed and concluded, you may then at once sign and exchange notes with the Persian Government without any provision regarding personal status and family law jurisdiction, although on the express understanding that in the immediate future a further exchange of notes will be negotiated on this subject.
It is presumed by the Department that the provisions in the notes on most-favored-nation treatment in tariff matters contain the reservations respecting Cuba, the Panama Canal Zone, etc., set forth in the 1924 Greek note.