Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, The Conferences at Cairo and Tehran, 1943

Roosevelt Papers

The Acting Secretary of State (Stettinius) to the President

Washington, October 30, 1943.

Memorandum for the President

If your journey should take you to the eastern Mediterranean I believe you may wish to look into the following matters.

1. The Palestine question. Kirk and other officers of our Legation at Cairo and at Jerusalem are well informed.

2. Problems relating to Greece, particularly the Greek King. Lincoln MacVeagh will have full background on this.

3. Proposals for Arab Unity. Kirk will have ample information on that subject.

4. Continued French Imperialism in Syria and the Lebanon. The French are showing little disposition to implement their promises of independence. Wadsworth, Diplomatic Agent at Beirut, is well informed on the situation.

5. Difficulties in Iran. Dreyfus, our Minister, is coming home on leave within a few days.¹ However, Jernegan, one of the junior secretaries at Tehran, is particularly expert and well grounded on the complex Iranian situation. Millspaugh, American Financial Adviser to the Iranian Government could be helpful.

E. R. Stettinius, Jr.

1. Dreyfus left Tehran with Hull’s party (which was returning to Washington from the Moscow Conference) on November 4, 1943. But en route Hull suggested that Dreyfus postpone his leave, and Dreyfus accordingly returned from Marrakeeh to Tehran, arriving November 12, and resumed charge of the Legation on November 13. (123 D 82/566,567)