891.51A/528d: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Iran (Dreyfus)
206. Pursuant to the request of the Iranian Government, the Department has been working for some time on the question of a suitable man to head a financial mission to Iran. It is, of course, exceedingly difficult at the present time to find qualified men who are not already engaged in important work for the Allied cause and who are willing to undertake so exacting a mission.
After careful study, we have decided that from every point of view Dr. Millspaugh is the logical choice for the post. In coming to this conclusion we have taken into consideration the great prestige which his name would lend to the mission and the fact that he has had 5 years of highly successful experience, such as no other man could have, in the very field in which the work is to be done. We note from your reports that his popularity in Iran is great, and we therefore assume that he would be acceptable to the Iranian Government. He has declared his willingness to accept the post if offered and appears to be in good health and fully capable of meeting the exacting demands of the work at this time. We believe, further, that no man could be better qualified to select a strong group of assistants designed to meet the special needs of Iran. (The Department would, of course, give him full support and advice in obtaining suitable men.)
We have expressed the views set forth above to the Iranian Minister here, who has discussed the matter with Dr. Millspaugh and is understood to be consulting Tehran by cable.
The foregoing is transmitted for your information and for such use as you may care to make of it in conversation with Iranian officials.