891.105A/7
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Iran (Dreyfus)
The Secretary of State refers to the Department’s telegram no. 238 of September 9, 1942, regarding the expected enactment by the Congress of a bill which would permit the detail of officers of the American [Page 261] armed forces to assist the governments of certain foreign countries, including Iran. The bill in question was signed by the President on October 1, 1942,35 and there is enclosed, for the information of the Minister and any American officers in Iran who may be concerned, a copy of the original Act of May 19, 1926,36 together with its amendments of May 14, 193537 and October 1, 1942. It will be observed that in territories outside the Western Hemisphere, with the exception of the Philippine Islands, details under the authority of the Act are restricted to the duration of war or a declared national emergency.
As the Minister has been informed, it will be necessary to prepare an agreement, to be signed by the American and Iranian Governments, to cover the services of any American officers who may be detailed to Iran under the authority of the Act of 1926 as amended. The Department is at present engaged in drafting such an agreement for the mission of Colonel H. Norman Schwarzkopf and his assistants.
However, the War Department has advised the Department that the officers concerned need not await the conclusion of the agreement to assume such assimilated Iranian rank and to wear such Iranian uniforms and insignia as may be considered desirable. The Minister is requested to advise Colonel Schwarzkopf in this sense, explaining that the authorization is merely permissive and that he and his assistants may elect to continue to wear their American uniforms, if they consider it preferable. He should further be advised that he and his assistants should accept no compensation from the Iranian Government at this time.