891.20/174
The Assistant Secretary of State (Berle) to the Iranian Minister (Schayesteh)
My Dear Mr. Minister: I refer to your recent inquiry regarding the possibility of obtaining at this time two American Army officers as advisers to the Iranian Army on military aviation and engineering. The War Department has now informed the Department that it prefers to defer consideration of this matter pending receipt of a report from Major General Ridley, who has been instructed to make a thorough survey of the needs of the Iranian Army with respect to American military advisers. The Department of State and the War Department are prepared, of course, to give sympathetic attention to any recommendations which may be made by General Ridley in this regard, within the limitations imposed by the personnel needs of the combatant forces of the United Nations.
Sincerely yours,