891.00/2031: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Iran (Dreyfus)
377. Your 751, July 20. Department is inclined to feel that creation of a new force of British-officered Iranian troops, similar to South Persia Rifles, would be a mistake at this time, since it would be an invitation to the Soviets to create a similar organization, a counterpart of the old Cossack Brigade. It seems to us that development of two new military groups, under foreign domination, would only lead to confusion worse confounded and that the equipment and effort devoted to their organization could better be employed under the direction of Ridley and Schwarzkopf in building up the existing Iranian Army and Gendarmerie.
If these latter forces are unable to cope with the tribal situation, do you not believe that from a political point of view it would be preferable to employ British troops to maintain security, rather than create a pseudo-Iranian force which would, we imagine, be regarded with suspicion by the Iranians themselves?
We should like to have an up-to-date picture of Ali Mansur; latest biography in our files is dated 1933.