701.9111/523: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Iran (Merriam)
22. Your 31, April 16, noon. Mr. Hornibrook has returned and has informed the Department of the conversation which he had on March 15th with Mr. Kazemi, then Minister for Foreign Affairs. In that conversation Mr. Kazemi thought fit to urge that this Government take steps to amend the Constitution so as to restrict the freedom of the press. The absolute impossibility of any such steps must be clear to anyone who is familiar with American institutions and the American form of government.
Under the circumstances it is apparent that no useful purpose could be served by sending a special envoy to Teheran and the proposed mission has therefore been definitely abandoned.
Please bring the foregoing to the attention of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, leaving with him an aide-mémoire of your conversation.