166.934/197: Telegram
The Chargé in Iran ( Engert ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:05 a.m.]
9. The Prime Minister58a again sent for me last night and said the Iranian Government would appreciate it so much if the Department could continue to take a friendly interest in its attempts to place large orders in the United States and if possible to obtain a loan.59
I told him of the Department’s telegram 2, January 5, 6 p.m.,60 which I had already communicated to the Minister of Finance60a and [Page 664] pointed out the necessity of being as precise as possible in order to enable American firms to make offers.
From further remarks he made I saw that he had no clear idea as to what the various Ministries really wanted from America nor how they should go about it to obtain what they needed. I therefore advised him to inform his Legation at Washington of all their requirements and said that I felt sure the Department would be glad to assist in any way it properly could. From the fact that he seemed clearly disappointed when I made this suggestion and from the nature of his helpless questions I can only conclude that heretofore the German Legation must have relieved them of all necessity to think for themselves.
The Department may wish to refer to this conversation when the new Iranian Minister calls.