701.9111/641: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Iran (Engert)
62. Your 128, December 20, 1 p.m. As you are doubtless aware from the Department’s 22, April 30, 7 p.m.,14 and 24, May 15, 5 p.m. 1936,15 it was not considered advisable to give further consideration [Page 728] to the proposal of sending a special mission to Iran and the Department has regarded the matter as closed. Developments since that time have tended to confirm the Department in its belief that such a mission would serve no useful purpose. You will therefore discreetly discourage any contrary suggestions from Government officials.
As for the matter of the reopening of the Iranian Legation in Washington and the rank of our representative in Iran you may inform competent officials of the Iranian Government that this Government has no objection to the reopening of the Legation by a Chargé d’Affaires and that the Department will recommend the appointment of an American Minister to Teheran as soon thereafter as practicable. The Iranian Government is doubtless aware that nominations by the President of Ministers and Ambassadors require confirmation by the Senate and that this procedure necessarily entails at times a certain amount of delay.
You may add that this Government of course assumes that His Majesty will in due time, in order that his prestige in the United States may not be lessened, wish to be represented in Washington by a full envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary.