791.003/128: Telegram
The Minister in Persia (Philip) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 28—2:10 p.m.]
59. Reference Department’s 44, May 26, 6 p.m.
(1) After I was shown the Persian declaration handed the British Minister on personal status, etc., I resumed negotiating with the Persian Government in accordance with the draft embodied in the Department’s telegram 40, May 10, 7 p.m.
Seemingly influenced by its French legal adviser, the Persian Government has shown an unwillingness in coming to a satisfactory agreement on the text of the proposed notes concerning personal status and family law jurisdiction; I have sensed a disposition here to avoid the issue. I think, in view of the assurance (see my 54, May 13, 2 p.m., paragraph (1)) that the Persian Minister at Washington would be sent instructions, the Department might well communicate its views now to him.
(2) The original draft declarations on safeguards, it was understood, were to be identical, except that special provisions concerning missionaries were included in the copy shown to me. As handed to me and to the other foreign representatives who have signed provisional agreements already, the declarations on safeguards appear to be identical, with the exception of the matters on personal status. The provisions for these were at the last moment made to correspond to the agreement texts themselves, though, in the case of Great Britain, the details were elaborated, not in the exchange of notes, but rather in the declaration. Since in matters relating to personal status and family law jurisdiction, all the other governments except Great Britain and the United States appear ready to grant equal rights to Persia, the latter may now be less disposed to effect with the United States a similar arrangement to that which the Persian Government may have been obliged by circumstances to make with Great Britain.
(3) In the text of the proposed note, would the Department approve using the word “non-Moslem” to qualify United States nationals?
(4) Tonight I shall see Teimourtache, and I will report as soon as I obtain any satisfactory information.