711.91/65: Telegram
The Chargé in Iran (Engert) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 23—10:28 a.m.]
76. My 70, June 13, 11 a.m.14 To show the Department how utterly impossible it seems to make any headway beyond a certain point, the Minister for Foreign Affairs asked me this morning whether I could not on my arrival in Washington privately suggest to the Secretary of State that a special mission be sent to Iran “under the pretext” of negotiating a commercial agreement or looking over industrial and mining possibilities. He added that the head of such a mission could afterwards perhaps present his credentials as Minister! [Page 733] I replied that when in Washington I would repeat to the Department what he had said but that I could not hold out much hope that his suggestion would be accepted. I said that I personally felt the reestablishment of normal relations between our two countries could easily be accomplished without resorting to any subterfuges.
Considering that the Foreign Minister is an intelligent man and animated by genuinely friendly feeling towards us his remarks—which he obviously meant to be a constructive contribution—are to say the least discouraging.
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