891.24/202
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs (Alling)14
Following a conference in Mr. Acheson’s office on Saturday regarding Lend-Lease for Iran it was agreed that, should approval be given by the Department to the proposal to make a public announcement that Iran had been found eligible for Lend-Lease, the British Embassy [Page 294] should be so informed. Therefore, on Monday, when such approval was given, I informed Mr. Hayter of the British Embassy. He had previously requested such information since the Embassy had expressed the view that no announcement should be made regarding Iran until a similar announcement could be made regarding Iraq.
This morning Mr. Hayter telephoned urgently to say that instructions had been received from the Foreign Office begging us to refrain from making any announcement concerning Iran until an announcement could be made regarding Iraq. Mr. Hayter added that the Ambassador16 would speak about the matter this morning to the Secretary or to Mr. Welles. I told Mr. Hayter that the matter had already gone very far forward and that the Department had proposed the issuance of a statement by the White House to be made tomorrow, May 1. I added that the Iranian Legation had been informed that we would make such an announcement and that the Iranian Minister had already informed his Government that an announcement was to be made. Therefore there remained only the question of the date of the announcement. Mr. Hayter urged that steps be taken to withhold the announcement until the Ambassador had had an opportunity today to discuss the matter with the Secretary or Mr. Welles. I told him that I would bring his request to the attention of the appropriate officers.