891.51A/515: Telegram
The Minister in Iran (Dreyfus) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 5—10:26 a.m.]
218. The Minister of Foreign Affairs informs me he will shortly request the assistance of the American Government in obtaining for Iran American finance, health, municipal and perhaps other advisers and missions. His delay in making formal proposals is probably due to fact that Majlis which expired October 31 will reassemble November 31 at which time Government will be reconstituted.
Iran is looking more and more toward United States for assistance and guidance and we should not, I feel, miss the opportunity to improve our position. I suggest in case formal overtures are made on this score that Iranian requests be sympathetically received. We must of course bear in mind growing possibility of German invasion of Iran which may prevent actual selection and arrival of such advisers. Even in event of invasion the preliminary steps taken now would facilitate the resumption of conversations after the war.