740.0011 European War 1939/15477
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Under Secretary of State (Welles)
The British Chargé d’Affaires, Sir Ronald Campbell, called to see me this morning at his request.
Sir Ronald stated that Mr. Eden desired Secretary Hull to be informed, in response to the latter’s inquiry concerning the situation in [Page 462] Iran, that the British Government had decided to support the new Shah and to recognize his government because of the wishes expressed with regard thereto by the Iranian Government itself. Mr. Eden said … the new Shah … had given assurances that the Iranian Constitution would be observed, that the properties taken by his father would be restored to the nation and that he would undertake the carrying out of all of the reforms considered necessary by the British Government. Mr. Eden further stated that he believed that the reports alleging violence and brutality on the part of the Soviet troops had been deliberately started by ousted Iranian officials. He said further that while the situation in eastern Iran was by no means clear as yet, all of the reports received by the British Government indicated that discipline among the Soviet troops was good.