891.00/1857: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Iran ( Dreyfus )
85. Your 98, April 7 and unnumbered [99] April 8, 10 a.m. Unless the refusal to expel Japanese Legation was reversed at meeting of Majlis mentioned in your April 8, 10 a.m., you are requested to convey to the Iranian Government immediately the substance of the following:
The Iranian Government is well aware of the desire of the United States to assist Iran in every way possible, both now and in the future as it has done in the past. The United States Government is at present giving its best attention to Iranian requests for advisers and has been prepared to give sympathetic consideration to further requests of this character if presented. This Government is actively working on a program of economic assistance designed to meet the urgent needs of Iran. Evidence of this is provided by, among other things, the recent action making Iran eligible for Lend-Lease aid.
However, the United States cannot be expected to continue its efforts along these lines while Iran maintains friendly relations with the enemies of this country—relations which this Government feels are quite as dangerous to Iran as to the United States. Consequently, unless immediate and positive action is taken to expel all Japanese diplomatic and consular representation, the United States will be forced to reconsider and revise its entire economic policy toward Iran.