891.711/52: Telegram
The Chargé in Iran (Engert) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:45 a.m.]
47. Legation’s 40, June 22, 8 a.m.18 I am now unofficially informed that at the last meeting of the Cabinet it was decided to permit delivery of second-class mail from the United States to all addresses in Iran excepting only publications which have used objectionable language in the past. Considering that the Iranian Government has [Page 734] recently been fully preoccupied with the Asiatic Pact19 and other important problems this step may be regarded as a distinct gesture of good will towards us.
In advising the Post Office Department informally of the above the Department may wish to add confidentially that I have had several conversations with the Director General of Posts in an attempt to salvage as much as possible of the large quantities of books, magazines, et cetera, which have not been delivered during the past 16 months. He informs me most of the material has been destroyed including registered matter. When I expressed astonishment he implied it was due to a mistake on the part of a minor official. I then said I hoped that any claim for lost registered articles would be promptly paid, to which he agreed at once.