Office of the Historian

891.00/1915

Memorandum by the Adviser on Political Relations (Murray) to the Secretary of State

[Washington,] September 1, 1942.

Mr. Secretary: From the attached telegram from Tehran, no. 275, August 31,13 it appears that the Anglo-Iranian dispute over arrests of alleged Axis agents has been settled, however unsatisfactorily from the Iranian point of view. Accordingly, it would seem that there is now no purpose to be served by sending the draft telegram14 to London.

I do not think, however, that we should let the matter drop entirely. If you agree, I should like to suggest that you take an early occasion to let Lord Halifax15 know, informally, that we regard as unfortunate any action, by any of the United Nations, which unnecessarily offends the sensibilities of the Iranians. You may wish to mention the present case as an instance in which, we fear, the harm done to our [Page 342] cause in Iranian eyes may outweigh the benefits obtained through closer control of the prisoners.

Lord Halifax may be interested to know that an American expert will depart for Iran within the next few days to take charge of the Iranian urban police forces. An American mission of three officers has already arrived in Iran to take charge of the national gendarmerie, or rural police. It is hoped that these men will be able to provide greater assurance that action taken by Iranian authorities against Axis agents will be properly conducted and that persons arrested will be adequately guarded without the necessity for British or Soviet intervention.16

Wallace Murray
  1. Supra.↩
  2. Dated August 25, p. 340.↩
  3. British Ambassador in the United States.↩

  4. In an attached memorandum dated September 4, Mr. Murray states: “The Secretary spoke to me this morning about the attached file regarding the Anglo-Iranian dispute over arrests of alleged Axis agents.

    “In view of the improvement in the situation, and following our recommendations, the Secretary agrees that the draft telegram to London need not be sent.

    “Nevertheless, the Secretary feels that the general situation in Iran resulting from friction between the British and Iranians warrants him in taking the matter up with the British Ambassador. The Secretary intends to use the substance of the attached memorandum of September 1 in his conversation with Lord Halifax.”

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