791.003/139
The Minister in Persia (Philip) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 14.]
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of a letter to the American Consul at Tabriz, dated the 18th instant,48 in which I have mentioned the delicate subject of the refusal by the Persian Government to recognize the changed status of Persian nationals who have become naturalized American citizens without its consent.
In the course of my negotiations for a provisional agreement to replace our treaty with Persia, which expired on May 10, 1928, I took the liberty of broaching this subject in the faint hope that it might have been possible to reach some understanding in the matter of American naturalization with the Persian Government. Had the circumstances under which the negotiations were conducted been somewhat different and had the attitude of certain other interested powers in the matter of non-capitulatory agreements been less facile for the Persians, I am under the impression that something might have been capable of accomplishment in this direction.
My initiative with Teimourtache elicited from him an expression of readiness to enter into special negotiations for an international agreement regarding naturalization. However, with his customary astuteness, he refused to enter into the relative discussions until the matter of the capitulations had been settled. He said that his Government would be prepared to take this up at any time after May 10th, and he fully agreed with me that a more lenient attitude in the matter of the recognition of the foreign naturalization of Persian nationals would be a real benefit to Persia.
Teimourtache further said that the basic law of Persia would not authorize the Shah to grant an inclusive recognition of the changed status of all Persian nationals who may have acquired foreign nationality prior to any given date, but he did suggest that such action might be possible as regards individuals whose names were included in a list to be submitted for such action.
The question of the extension of protection to naturalized American citizens of Persian origin constitutes an ever present bugbear to the official representatives of the United States in Persia.
I have the honor to submit the above remarks to the consideration of the Department in the hope that it may find in them the nucleus of a possible solution of a vexing question. I have the idea that the present may be a favorable moment to take the initiative in the matter should such action meet with the Department’s approval.
I have [etc.]
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