891.711/3
The Chargé in Iran (Merriam) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 15.]
Sir: With regard to the statement contained in the Legation’s telegram No. 30 of April 6, 12 noon14 to the effect that all second-class mail is being withheld from delivery upon entry into Iran, I have the honor to report that I have taken pains to ascertain whether this measure has been taken solely with respect to second-class mail of American origin, or with respect to all second-class mail of foreign origin.
[Page 376]According to the information that has come in from a large number of sources, the conclusion appears inescapable that only American second-class mail is being so treated. No announcement or explanation has been forthcoming from the authorities in this connection, but there seems to be little doubt that American newspapers and magazines are not being delivered in view of the consideration that some of them are likely to contain exceptionable commentaries upon the withdrawal of the Iranian representatives from the United States15 and the reasons therefor, circulation of which in this country would naturally be deemed undesirable.
Publications carrying items of this sort could be expected to arrive from the present time to the end of about three weeks, but nondelivery dates from about two weeks ago, thus coinciding with the withdrawal.
The withholding of American second-class mail has caused considerable inconvenience and annoyance to subscribers, both American and of other nationalities, and vigorous protests have been voiced to the postal authorities by private individuals, one of the most vigorous having been lodged by the American-born wife of a high official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Legation is, and doubtless will continue to be, under strong pressure to protest. The British Chargé, who lays considerable store by a certain American newspaper, has told me that if and when I should decide to make representations, he would be glad to associate his personal protest. I have considered, however, that it would be unwise, in the absence of instructions from the Department, to take up the matter officially for the present, since the desire of the Iranian Government to prohibit circulation of printed matter in Iran which would be derogatory in tone or language to Iran or to the Shah is perfectly understandable. The diffusion of articles considered to be wounding to Iran or to His Majesty would in fact only serve to endanger the delicate relations which now exist, and might result in action by the Iranian Government of the nature indicated in my telegram No. 27 of March 30, 7 p.m.16
I think it preferable, therefore, to take no official notice of the non-delivery of American second-class mail until all the comments upon the withdrawal of the Iranian representatives which can reasonably be expected shall have ceased, and then merely to request information and explanations, but to refrain from lodging anything in the nature of a protest in the absence of specific instructions from the Department.
[Page 377]The measure has resulted in absurdities, as all general measures of the kind are bound to do, for technical publications such as the American Medical Journal which under no stretch of the imagination would be likely to contain any thing of an exceptionable nature, have been held up along with publications of a more general sort. The Government, of course, does not have such facilities as would enable it to examine all second-class mail coming from the United States and to eliminate only those publications the circulation of which is not desired.
Newspapers and magazines arriving for members of the Legation staff via the Department and the United States Despatch Agent at London have been delivered up to the present time, presumably because the packages within which the publications are rolled appear to have an official character.
Several instances in which letters have been opened and not officially resealed have also come to my notice. But this attention has been devoted to the mail of all nationalities without any apparent discrimination, and is probably related to the enforcement of the Foreign Exchange Control Law.
Respectfully yours,