891.5018/5a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Iran (Dreyfus)
Washington, August
19, 1942—10 p.m.
217. In an interview with Under Secretary August 17 Saleh stated that Iran is facing a critical situation due to food and transport shortage and that despite all assurances given during past months no supplies to remedy this condition have been received. Please telegraph available information on following points:
- 1.
- What steps are being taken to relieve wheat shortage? Do you consider situation so serious that Department should press for shipment of wheat despite shortage of shipping space?
- 2.
- Do you believe wheat shortage could be relieved without imports if internal transport and distribution were improved?
- 3.
- What steps are being taken, through Central Supplies Committee or otherwise, to relieve transport situation? British have repeatedly informed us some 44,000 tires were being sent to Iran (in addition to the 24,230 requisitioned on Iranian behalf and now about to be shipped from this country). Have any of these tires been received and distributed for civilian supply use? Are spare parts and accessories being obtained to place in service large number trucks previously reported laid up? Are additional trucks being obtained from any source?
- 4.
- What is status of proposed transport committee?
- 5.
- Please cable summary of Iranian requests so far presented to CSC, action taken by Committee and action taken by MESC on any recommendations forwarded by CSC. Do you consider CSC and MESC are functioning efficiently with respect to Iran?
Hull