891.24/207
The Department of State to the Iranian Legation
Aide-Mémoire
On June 19, 1942 the Iranian Minister spoke to the Under Secretary of State regarding Iranian needs in connection with highway transportation and requested the assistance of the United States Government in obtaining tires and trucks for use in Iran. This matter has been under study by the Department.
The American Government is, of course, well aware of the importance of motor transport to the Iranian economy. Consequently, it fully intends to do everything possible, consistent with the war effort of the United Nations, to ensure the supply to Iran of minimum essential supplies of tires and trucks.
In line with this policy, the Department has been glad to learn that the British Government has already obtained and has in process of shipment, or actually en route, approximately 44,000 tires for use in Iran. Further, the British Government has submitted to the Office of Lend-Lease Administration a requisition for an additional 24,230 tires and tubes. The American Minister at Tehran has reported that this order, which has been approved by the Lend-Lease Administration, was placed at the instance of the Iranian Government.
It appears, therefore, that Iran should receive during the current year a total of about 68,000 tires. A report from the American Minister at Tehran indicates that this quantity should be sufficient to meet the essential needs of Iranian and Allied motor transport in Iran for a period of one year.
As the Iranian Minister is aware, the United States and Great Britain have recently formed in Tehran an Anglo-American body known as the Tehran Central Supplies Committee which is to consider, in conjunction with a similar Iranian committee, the import requirements of Iran. Should the Iranian Government feel that further quantities of tires are needed, the United States would be willing to consider, in the light of available supplies and shipping space, any request which may be made in this sense to the Tehran Central Supplies Committee.
[Page 141]With respect to trucks, the Department would like to have further information before giving a definite answer. The American Minister at Tehran has reported that in May, last, approximately 1,500 trucks in Iran were not in use because of lack of tires and spare parts, and it is felt that attention should first be directed to returning those trucks to operation. However, as in the case of tires, this Government would be prepared to consider any Iranian request for trucks which might be made to the Tehran Central Supplies Committee.